Kearney, Neb. - Posts Michael McLeod and Mike Dentlinger combined for 25 points, and junior wing Max Froehlich was big down the stretch, to lead the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team to a 71-63 win at Doane College Tuesday night in Crete.

This was the Lopers season opener. Playing its first-ever game in the new Haddix Center, the NAIA Tigers drop to 3-1.

In a contest that featured 12 ties and 12 lead changes, UNK got out to an early 4-0 lead in the first couple minutes on baskets from junior forward Chris Deans (Hemingford) and Dentlinger. Doane scored six of the next eight points to tie the game by the 16:34 mark.

Over the next six minutes, neither team held a lead larger than two points. UNK broke a 19-19 tie by going on an 8-5 run to lead 27-24 at the half.

Shooting 57 percent from the field on the night, including a sizzling 17 of 23 (73 pct.) after the break, UNK used a late run to pull away from Doane.

With neither team holding a lead of more than four points over the first 35 minutes, the Lopers outscored the Tigers, 16-5, in the final 5:40 with Froehlich, a preseason All-RMAC pick, scoring eight of his team-high 14 points during this time.

A true freshman from Millard North, Dentlinger (6-6) scored 13 points and pulled down a team-best 11 rebounds with McLeod (Brownlee) coming off the bench to make all six shots he took to tally 12 points.

Also reaching double digits was sophomore guard Akeem Morissaint (Delray Beach, Fla.), who had 10 of his 11 points in the 2nd half.

Nick Reed (15) and reserve Josh Riser (10) led the Doane.

UNK is on the road once again Thursday night at Wayne State (NE) and then plays Fort Hays State Saturday.