Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team won the battle on the glass and made some key plays down the stretch to upset sixth-ranked Colorado School of Mines, 66-57, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (5-3, 3-2 RMAC), who've now faced three of the nation's top 15 teams, snap a three-game losing streak to the Orediggers (7-1, 3-1 RMAC) and beat a top five team for the first time in five years.

The tallest team in the RMAC, Mines came in shooting 55% from the field thanks to a plus 12 rebounding margin. However, those numbers didn't carry over to today as UNK jumped out to a 9-0 lead as the 'Diggers missed its first four shots and had two turnovers.

The Lopers also grabbed seven of the first eight rebounds and finished the day with a plus two advantage, 34-32. That included 13 offensive caroms which directly led to 16 points.

After the quick start, UNK kept its lead for the entire first half but the 'Diggers started to heat up and used its size advantage to get the Loper posts into foul trouble. Down 30-26 at the break, Mines grabbed its first lead of the game when senior post Dale Mischwaner scored four straight to make it 36-34 with 15:44 to go.

UNK, however, tied things at 38 about two minutes later and didn't trail again. A key turning point came with the Lopers up 49-43 with about seven minutes to go.

After a missed three, junior reserve post Drew Sankey (Lincoln East) grabbed an offensive rebound and tossed the ball out to sophomore post Mike Dentlinger (Millard North). He calmly stepped back a foot and nailed his third three of the year.

Mines responded with a bucket but Dentlinger struck again, hitting another three to give UNK its first double digit lead of the day. For the season, Dentlinger is now 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

The 'Diggers didn't get closer than seven points the rest of the way as they finished just 22 of 51 (43%) from the field and 3 of 10 from downtown. They came in averaging nearly nine made threes per game.

UNK made 42% (21 of 50) of its shots but that included a 6 of 14 effort from the triple line. Making 18 of 26 free throws, the Lopers committed only 12 turnovers.

Individually, senior guard Quinston Reggins (Houston, Texas) played all 40 minutes and tallied 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. He finished 5 of 10 from the floor and 8 of 10 at the line while having six boards and two dimes.

Dentlinger also was big after the break, scoring 10 of his 18 points. He led the team in rebounds (seven) and added two steals in 37 minutes.  Finally, senior Max Froehlich (Pierce) had 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Six-eight reserve post Trevor Wages haunted the Lopers again, leading Mines in points (15) and boards (eight). Starting guard Brett Green (14) was the other 'Digger in double digits.

UNK hosts Colorado Christian tomorrow afternoon.