Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team roared out to a 46-16 halftime lead but still needed to make some plays down the stretch to beat Wayne State, 85-77, Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK improves to 2-1 while the Wildcats fall to 1-3.

The Lopers couldn't miss in the first half, making nine of its first 10 shots and sinking its first six three pointers. A 21-0 UNK run featured five of these made threes and the Lopers led 30-6 about 12 minutes into the game.

Finishing the half shooting 70.4% (19 of 27), UNK held Wayne in check on the other end of the court as well. The 'Cats made only 8 of 25 field goals (32.0%) with leading scorer Amry Shelby (17.3 pg) held scoreless

The teams seemingly switched uniforms at the break as Wayne stormed out of the locker room and went on a 34-13 run to trail by just a 59-50 score at the midpoint of the second half. 

Diminutive senior guard Vontrell Seroyer caused the most damage as he tallied 30 of his game-high 32 points after the break. Wayne also took 17 more shots, 36-19, than the Lopers in the second half.

A three by Seroyer cut the Loper lead to three, 63-60, at the 5:58 mark. Junior wing Jon Henderson (Salt Lake City, Utah) scored seven straight for Kearney to make it an eight point game, 70-62, two minutes later. Wayne's lone bucket during this time was from Seroyer.

In the final four minutes, the 'Cats didn't get closer than six points as UNK went 21 of 27 at the line on the night.

After going 8 of 12 from behind the arc in the first half, the Lopers didn't make a three in the second half (0 for 2). Besides the solid free throw shooting, the Lopers shot 60.9% (28 of 46) from the floor and out rebounded Wayne by two, 30-28.

The Wildcats made 61.1% (22 of 36) of its second half field goals. They also tallied 22 points off 18 Loper turnovers and had 15 second chance points thanks to 11 offensive rebounds.

Henderson finished with a team-high 21 points on 7 of 9 shooting. Next, senior guard Quinston Reggins (Houston, Texas) scored 12 of his 18 points in the final 20 minutes with posts Mike Dentlinger (Millard North) and Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic) combining for 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Seroyer reached his point total by sinking 13 of 17 shots, including a 2 of 5 effort from the three point line. Off the bench, senior forward Clayfell Harris had 12 points and eight boards.

UNK begins RMAC play next weekend at Colorado Mesa and Western State.