Kearney, Neb. – Mesa State shoots over 50 percent for the game and got 31 points off the bench from Michael Bear to defeat Nebraska Kearney, 86-76, Friday night in Grand Junction, Colo.

Nebraska Kearney falls to 8-12 and 6-10 in the RMAC, while Mesa State improves to 13-7 and 9-7 in the RMAC. Nebraska Kearney defeated Mesa State 73-65, back on December 4th and leads the all-time series 22-5.

The Lopers would have a two point lead 6-4 with 15:21 left in the first half. True Freshman Mike Dentlinger (Omaha) scored the first four points of the game, while redshirt freshman Denver Klaus (Bennington) scored the other two points, which turned out to be the only lead for the Lopers.

The Mavericks would take the lead on a layup by Jeff Hart with 14:16 left in the half, after getting the lead the Lopers would keep it at single digits until the five minute mark when Bear would hit back to back three pointers.

Mesa would push the lead to 15 points on a jumper by Kalonji Paschal at the end of the half to lead 42-27. Mesa would shoot 57.7 percent (15-26) from the floor and 50 percent (3-6) from behind the arc; while Kearney would shoot 32 percent (8-25) from the field and 18.2 percent (2-11) on three pointers.

The Mavs would lead the majority of second twenty minutes by at least 12 points. The Lopers would cut the Mavs lead to single digits at four different times during the half but could never get the lead back.

Mesa would shoot 59 percent (13-22) from the field in the second half to go along with the 57.7 percent in the first twenty minutes to shoot 58.3 percent for the game; while Kearney would shoot 40 percent (14-35) in the second half and shoot 36.7 percent for the game.

MSC got 31 points from Bear by going 12 of 13 from the free throw line and five rebounds, Nate Nelson added 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting, Paschal would chip in 12 points and five boards, finally Hart would be the last scorer with double digits points by scoring ten points and three steals.

UNK was lead in scoring by junior guard Max Froehlich (Pierce) with 19 points with five rebounds, junior forward Chris Deans (Hemingford) scored 13 points off the beach and pulled down five boards, finally freshman Tim Billingsley (Parker, CO) would contribute 10 points and three assist.

Nebraska Kearney returns to action tonight against Western State.