Omaha Men Cruise Past Western, 90-74

By David Boyce

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The three ball fell for Nebraska-Omaha like snow on the East Coast and it buried Missouri Western Wednesday evening at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Mavericks knocked down 12 treys in their 90-74 victory over Missouri Western.

"It's pretty nice. It definitely helps our team out," said Nebraska-Omaha junior Jeff Martin. "We came in a little soft in warm ups, not talking as much. Making a couple of shots definitely boosted the team's morale."

Coming in the two teams were close to even in records and regional standings. Nebraska-Omaha is ranked seventh in the South Central Region and Missouri Western is eighth.

"This was a huge victory," Martin said. "You look at the regional rankings and whoever losses this game maybe drops to nine. They jump us if they beat us. We came out and played really hard today."

Only the top eight teams in region advance to the NCAA Division II tournament. But there is still nearly a month of basketball left before it is decided.

"They looked like they were the fresher team," Missouri Western coach Tom Smith said. "Maybe for the first time this year the pressure got to us. But they were definitely the better team tonight."

Nebraska-Omaha got a little separation on the Griffons' home floor. The win lifted the Mavericks to 16-6 overall and 9-6 in the MIAA. Missouri Western dropped to 14-9 and 9-7.

"It's always tough to win on the road and obviously shooting helps," Nebraska-Omaha coach Derrin Hansen said. "You think it is defense and rebounding and that's a big part of it. But if you can hit some shots early it takes some pressure off at the other end."

Martin led the way for Nebraska-Omaha, knocking down six three-pointers in 10 attempts.

"It's a credit to Jeff and our staff and the rest of the guys on the floor to get him open shots," Bullock said. "When we get him shots he is going to knock them down more times than not. He came through for us big tonight."

As hot as the Mavericks were from the outside, the inside play of Eugene Bain and the transition baskets by Torrian Harris and Bullock contributed the double-digit victory.

"We just throw it in to Bain and it just helps us open up so many other things," Hansen said.

The Mavericks rarely let up. They began the second half with a 10-point lead and wasted little time expanding it to 58-41. It was a three-pointer by Matt Newman that gave the Mavericks a 17-point advantage.

"We want to get out and run," Bullock said. "If not and then we will run our offense.

"We've been in this situation before and we let teams back in. This time we took care of business from start to finish. It's the best win of the season, by far."

Nebraska-Omaha just had too many players hitting shots, and that caused all sorts of defensive issues for the Griffons. Led by Martin's 20 points, five players scored in double figures for the Mavericks.

Martin came out bombing three-pointers all over the floor and that led to an offensive explosion for the Mavericks, who scored 43 points in the first half.

At times, Missouri Western matched Nebraska-Omaha's fire-power. In fact, Marcus Rhodes knocked down six of nine shots from the field and scored 13 points in the first half.

The math problem for Missouri Western was Martin was five for seven from three-point range. Three-pointers add up quicker than two-point field goals.

Missouri Western scored the first six points of the game. Nebraska-Omaha's first five baskets were three-pointers. Martin started it. Matt Newman followed with a three-pointer that tied the game 6-6.

Newman hit three more treys, staking the Mavericks to a 15-11 lead. Nebraska-Omaha led the rest of the first half and went into halftime ahead 43-33.

To reach David Boyce, contributing writer for the MIAA, e-mail dboyce@themiaa.com.