Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore forward Mike Dentlinger scored a game-high 18 points and the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team shot nearly 70 percent in the second half to pull away from Chadron State, 72-51, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK (7-5, 5-4 RMAC) stops a two-game losing streak while the Eagles (2-11, 2-7 RMAC) drop a 16th straight road contest, dating back to December 2010.

The first half was extremely even as neither team held more than a four point lead and each team made 10 field goals. Despite being out rebounded by five, UNK led 25-24 at the break thanks to five points off of 10 Eagle turnovers.

UNK then came out of the locker on fire as they used a 12-3 run to lead 37-27 with 14:11 to go. During this stretch, Dentlinger (Millard North) scored five points, including his fifth three of the year.

The Lopers just increased its lead from there, opening up a 25-point cushion by the five minute mark. Eleven different Kearney players scored at least four points in the game as the team made 67.9% (19 of 28) of its shots in the second half.

Chadron, which finished with a plus nine rebounding margin, made only 35% (17 of 48) of its shots and also had 22 turnovers.

Playing 25 minutes, Dentlinger reached his point total by sinking 8 of 12 field goals. No other Loper was in double digits but junior wing Jon Henderson (Salt Lake City, Utah) tallied nine and the bench provided 29 points.

Senior post Moala Tautuaa paced the Eagles with 11 points and eight boards.

UNK hosts Western New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands next weekend.