Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball made 17 three pointers, tying a school record, and held on down the stretch to upset Metro State, 77-75, Saturday afternoon in Denver.

UNK (12-13, 7-10 RMAC) stops a two-game losing streak and wins at Metro for the first time in seven years. The Roadrunners (19-6, 12-5 RMAC), ranked most of the season in the nation's Top 25, have now lost three of its last four games.

The Lopers are now battling Colorado Christian, Colo.-Colo. Springs and Chadron State for the RMAC Tournament. Two spots are available for these four teams; UNK will likely need to go 2-0 this weekend to make the eight-team event.

Moment of the Game
Facing the vaunted Metro pressure defense for the second time this year, UNK committed 20 turnovers which led to 21 points for the 'Runners. Metro also dominated inside, out scoring the Lopers 48-12 in the lane and having a plus 25 advantage in 2nd chance points (28-3).

However, UNK -- among the RMAC's best three point shooting teams all season -- had a big counter to that.

A key in beating Metro's defense is to be able to hit the open perimeter shot. The Lopers did that and more, going 17 of 22 (77 pct.) from beyond the arc. Kearney made 8 of 11 from downtown in the 1st half, only to top that by going 9 of 11 in the 2nd half.

Most of the triple damage came from freshman reserve guard Akeem Morissaint (9 of 11) and sophomore wing Chris Deans (5 of 6).

Deans went 4 of 4 in the 2nd half with Morissaint tying Mike Hancock's single game record for made threes. In a 1998 game vs. Fort Hays State, Hancock was 9 of 12 from the three point line.

The 2003-04 Lopers set the team 3-point standard by making 17 in a win over N.M. Highlands.

Trailing for the first 33 minutes, and being down by as many as 12, UNK shot out to a 73-66 lead after sophomore guard Michael Vandahl made his only three of the game with 2:37 left.

A three of their own, and two three point plays, kept Metro in the game and they had a chance to force overtime, or win outright, after forcing a jump ball with 19 seconds left.

But, A.J. Flournoy missed two free throws with 9 seconds left and then, after the Lopers missed a free throw, Reggie Evans and Brian Minor each misfired on potential game tying shots before the buzzer sounded.

UNK's 67.6 field goal percentage is not only a season high but the fourth best in school history. Inside the arc, the Lopers were a solid 8 of 15.

Lopers of the Game
Morissaint (Fr., G, Delray Beach, Fla.) - season-high 29 points (20 in the 1st half) on 10 of 12 FG shooting, 3 assists, 36 minutes off the bench
Deans (So., F, Hemingford) - 19 points (12 in the 2nd half) on 6 of 8 FG shooting, team-high 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 37 minutes
Josiah Parker (Sr., C, Lincoln) - 7 points in 21 minutes; becomes 37th Loper to reach 1,000 points (1,004); 1,000th point came on a 2nd half dunk; has reached 1k in points without making a 3-pointer
Max Froehlich (So., G, Pierce) - team-high 8 assists, 7 points, 3 rebounds

Opponent Notes
Starter Reggie Evans had a team-high 21 points on 9 of 17 FG shooting, 5 offensive rebounds, 3 steals
Starter Donte Nicholas had a double double (18 points & 12 rebounds)
Starter Jonathan Morse had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

Up Next
UNK hosts Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian to close out the regular season next weekend