Kearney, Neb. –Nebraska Kearney junior wing Max Froehlich led all scorers with 18 points but Colorado Christian had three players score at least ten points to win, 75-68, Saturday night in Lakewood, Colo.

UNK falls to 5-5 and 3-3 in the RMAC while Christian improves to 3-5 and 2-3 in the RMAC. The Lopers  lead the all-time series, 28-7, but the Cougars have now five of the last six games in the series.

The Lopers started the game on a 6-2 scoring run, which covered the three minutes, by getting baskets from true freshmen Mike Dentlinger (Millard North) and Tim Billingsley (Parker, Colo.) plus a layup by sophomore post Drew Sankey (Lincoln).

The Cougars battled back to tie the game at nine by the 14:46 mark on a free throw by senior post Kurt Ogbewele. CCU then went on a 5-0 run to lead 14-9 thanks to points by Ogbewele, junior guard Chris Oneal, and freshman post Michael Stamer, brother of former CCU great Brian Stamer.

UNK eventually tied the game at 19 with 8:56 left in the half on a free throw by sophomore guard Akeem Morissaint (Delray Beach, Fla.) and then grab its second lead on a jumper by senior Ben Klein (Plainview).

For the final time, Christian tied the game on a free throw by junior wing Andrew Ziemer, then Kearney grabbed its final lead, 23-21, of the night on a jumper by junior reserve post Beau Baker (Denver, Colo.).

Christian led 39-30 at the break but UNK would get the first points of the second half to cut CCU lead to seven points on a basket by Sankey. CCU then pushed the lead back to nine on free throws by Oneal.

After a jumper by sophomore guard Nick Gill made it 54-46 Cougars with ten minutes left , UNK went on a 6-0 run to trail by two, 54-52, with eight minutes left. During the run, UNK got points from Froehlich and Baker.

The Lopers still trailed by two, 70-68, with 1:50 left after free throws by Froehlich but the Cougars ended the game by making five of its last eight free throws to secure the win.

Froehlich reached his point total by making 13 of 14 free throws. He also pulled down 10 rebounds with Dentlinger (13) reaching double figures again.

CCU was led in scoring by Stamer and Ziemer with 16 points apiece, followed by Oneal with 11 points;  five of his points came via the free throw line.

Christian got out rebounded, 42-28,including 8-17 disadvantage on the offensive boards, but got 27 points off a season-high 23 Kearney turnovers.

The Lopers also shot a season-low 35.1 percent from the field, negating the strong board work.

Nebraska Kearney is off till January 2nd at home against Adams State.