Kearney, Neb. - True freshman forward Mike Dentlinger scored a season-high 30 points, and sophomore post Drew Sankey forced overtime with a last second jumper, to help Nebraska-Kearney beat Colorado State-Pueblo, 82-77, Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (7-10, 5-8 RMAC) snap a three-game losing streak while the Thunderwolves (8-9, 5-8 RMAC) see a modest two-game win streak come to an end. UNK also stops a three-game losing streak to Pueblo and now leads the all-time series 23-11.

In a game that featured 21 ties, 12 lead changes and no lead bigger than five points, UNK found themselves down 65-63 with 13 seconds left in regulation after reserve Ty Trahern (eight points, eight rebounds) scored a put back bucket.

With Pueblo clamping down on Dentlinger (Millard North H.S.), junior wing Max Froehlich (Pierce) drove into the lane and found Sankey (Lincoln East) on the baseline from about 12 feet out. Sankey, who is just coming back from mono, hit the jumper with a second left to force an extra five minutes.

Pueblo did call a timeout to set up a last second play but never got a shot off.

UNK never trailed in overtime as Sankey scored the session's first two points. A three from true freshman Tim Billingsley (Parker, Colo.) broke the 21st and last tie at the 2:44 mark to make it 73-70. Coming into the weekend as the nation's best free throw shooting team (80.6 pct), the Lopers then held off Pueblo by going 9 of 12 at the line in the final 1:30.

Struggling on the glass of late, UNK had a plus nine, 43-34, rebounding margin tonight. That is the Lopers third highest total of the season. That strong board work included 14 caroms on the offensive end, five coming from Sankey, which led to 14 second chance points.

Now averaging a team-best 14.6 points per game on the season, Dentlinger scored 24 of the team's first 48 points. He finished 11 of 18 from the field and 8 of 8 from the line while also having seven rebounds and three assists.

Despite picking up his fourth foul early in the second half, Froehlich came on strong late and ended with 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. He also went 6 of 6 at the line to be at 87.8 percent (78 of 80) for the winter.

Off the bench, Florida sophomore Akeem Morissaint went 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 6 at the line, to have 14 points with Bennington redshirt freshman Denver Klaus having six rebounds and four points in 20 minutes.

Pueblo had eight players score between six and 17 points with Kris Lawrie leading the way. He also had a team-high eight rebounds and three assists in 37 minuets. Fellow starter Daniel Pierce made 3 of 6 triples to finish with 13 points.

UNK hosts Colorado Christian and Colorado Mines next weekend.