Keeping Pace – Conference road triumph keeps Mside among GPAC top half

FREMONT, NEB. – The senior combination of center Trey Brown (Gretna, Neb.) and guard Tyler Vavrina (Abie, Neb.) helped pave the way to a pivotal Great Plains Athletic Conference victory Saturday Jan. 8.

Brown compiled his sixth double-double of the year, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. In clutch situations, a large share of his scoring occurred at the free-throw line, going 10 for 12 at the charity stripe. Vavrina provided a big spark from the outside, coming off the bench to hit on four-of-five three-point attempts, which led him to 12 points. He added two blocked shots on Midland University's Wikert Events Center floor to his afternoon resume. 

Mside, improving to 9-5 overall and 6-3 in the league, were taken to the wire by a Warriors team that has been a formidable challenge to date. After scoring 10 of the first 14 points, the visitors answered a seven-point first half and five-point second-half deficit. A 14-8 stretch drive over the last 7:51 allowed head coach Trent Miller's team to remain just a game behind league-leading Briar Cliff University. As the final moments played out, senior guard Zach Imig (Gretna, Neb.), jumping into seventh on the all-time program points list (1,628), canned a running jumper for a 73-70 edge with 1:31 left. From that point, Morningside survived a Midland bucket and two more shot attempts, including one at the buzzer, to claim the decision. 

The Mustangs remain on the road in loop action Wednesday, Jan. 12. Tip-off at Hastings College's Lynn Farrell Arena is 7:45 p.m.

NOTE: Brown closed within nine points of becoming part of the school's career top 10.