WEATHERFORD, Okla. — CJ Rodriguez and LB Willis combined for 34 points as each had 17 in a 95-80 loss to Nebraska-Kearney in the season opener at the SWOSU Classic.
 
The Lopers (1-0) had received votes in the NABC Preseason Top 25 Poll and had two preseason All-Americans including Connor Beranek who scored 39 points. Eleven of those points came at the free throw line as 65 fouls were called between the two teams. A total of 70 free throws were shot as newer rules are trying to reduce the physicality of the game.
 
Willis had eight of his points at the line as we went 8-for-10 and shot 4-for-9 from the field. He also had four assists and five rebounds. Rodriguez was also 4-for-9 from the field as all four of his makes were from 3-point range. He was also 5-for-7 at the line and added six rebounds. C.J. white had 11 points and nine rebounds off of the bench.
 
The Storm had 28 points off of the bench compared to just 12 from UNK, but the Lopers outscored SNU in paint 50-22. SNU shot 35.9 percent from the field and were 9-for-20 from 3-point range. SNU went 25-for-38 at the line and turned the ball over just 11 times. UNK shot 52.3 percent from the field and were 5-for-19 from 3-point range.
 
Southern Nazarene opened the game on an 11-2 run, but the Lopers scored nine straight to tie it at 11. Kearney didn't take its first lead until the 7:35 mark in the first half with a traditional three-point play to lead 28-27. UNK pushed it to six at 39-33 with 3:27 left in the first, but the Storm closed it to 39-38 with 1:48 in the half. The Lopers stretched it to 45-40 at intermission.
 
Kearney opened the second half with a 16-6 run to lead 61-46 and the Storm came no closer than eight the rest of the way.