Rachel Fuenzalida | The Metropolitan

Senior guard Reggie Evans in the lane against UNK Feb. 11 at Auraria Event Center. Metro won 83-73.

If it’s true that defense wins championships, than consider Metro’s men’s basketball team the favorite in any tournament they enter.

The ’Runners — 19-5 overall and 14-5 in the RMAC — used 10 steals and 24 points off of turnovers to help get past University of Nebraska-Kearney 83-73 Feb. 11 at Auraria Event Center. The Roadrunners are now ranked No. 18 in Division II.

Metro executed their full court pressure and double team defense tremendously, creating numerous turnovers throughout the game.

“I thought we wore them down,” Metro head coach Derrick Clark said. “They had 21 turnovers. They made some shots early but they didn’t make them late because they were fatigued, it was our pressure.”

The game began as a back and forth battle, featuring 12 lead changes in the first half.

Although UNK hit five three pointers, Metro stuck to the game plan of looking for the inside shot. The strategy paid off for Metro, leading 43-35 at halftime.

Helping build that halftime lead for Metro was junior forward Jonathan Morse. He was nearly perfect from the field, making five of six shots, and was perfect at the free throw line, making all five.

“I just try to be aggressive every night,” Morse said. “Today it was working out but it was a great team effort.”

With less than eight minutes left it seemed as if Metro was in control, holding a 14-point lead. UNK, however, battled back and went on an 11-0 run in a four-minute stretch to make the score 73-70.

The Roadrunners then clamped down on defense, holding the Lopers to just three points and causing four turnovers during the final 3:45 of the game to preserve the win.

“Our defensive pressure was a really key part of the game,” Morse said. “It really took a toll on them, especially later in the game.”

Metro’s offensive output complemented the defense, as four Roadrunners scored in double digits. Morse ended the night with 19 points, along with 15 rebounds, while senior guard Reggie Evans led all Metro scorers with 26 points.

“Coaches said be aggressive, go get some rebounds, and the game will come to you,” Evans said. “I just try to go within the system and just go off my opportunities that I have.”

Evans and the ’Runners will play two games in New Mexico, Feb. 17 and 18, before coming home to play Regis for the final tune-up game before the RMAC tournament.

There, the Roadrunners will look to continue their stellar defensive play in an attempt to prove that defense really does win championships.

Tags: defense, men's basketball, Metro, Nebraska-Kearney, top

People: Derrick Clark, Jonathan Morse, Reggie Evans