Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team wraps up a stretch of five games in eight days when it travels to Wayne State tonight and hosts Colorado School of Mines Sunday afternoon.

After these two games, UNK won't play again until Wednesday, December 5th.

The Wayne tilt starts at 7:00 p.m. with the battle against the old RMAC foe tipping at 2:00 p.m. Multimedia links can be found on the UNK schedule page.

Through three games, the Lopers (1-2) are scoring 80.7 points per game thanks to 49% field goal shooting. Also solid from the triple line (48%) and charity stripe (75%), UNK has a plus 9.3 rebounding margin as well.

However, Kearney has a -7.0 turnover margin and allowing the opposition to shoot 49% from the floor. Those factors help the opponent to be averaging 80.3 points per game.

Individually, three Lopers are in double figures, led by senior Jon Henderson (22.7) and sophomore Pierre Newton (16.3). Junior post Mike Dentlinger (7.0) is cleaning the glass with Henderson leading in assists (eight) and three pointers made (10).

Wayne State Wildcats (2-0)
The Wildcats already are 2-0 vs. the MIAA this season as they beat Southwest Baptist, 66-43, and Lincoln, 77-61, last weekend at SBU's tournament.

Senior guard Amry Shelby had 36 in the win over LU and is averaging 24.5 ppg. To reach that number, he is shooting 91% at the line and 60% from behind the arc.

Another WSC player to watch is 6-7, 220 lbs. junior post Ryan Rolfzen (11.5 points & 7.5 rebounds pg).

Last year, Wayne went 10-17 (9-13 NSIC) and lost to the Lopers, 85-77, in Kearney. Four Lopers reached double digits in the contest, including Henderson (21) and Dentlinger (14).

Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (1-0)
The 13th-ranked 'Diggers went 29-3 last year, reaching the Central Regional finals of the NCAA Tournament.

Graduation, injuries and a transfer have taken a toll on Mines but the squad has plenty of talent remaining, led by 6-9, 255 lbs. junior post Trevor Wages.

In an 87-83 OT win over Minot State on Nov. 10th, Wages went for 15 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. He has averaged a double double (11.1 points & 11.8 rebounds) against the Lopers in six career games.

Also of note, six-foot sophomore guard Brian Muller went for 28 in the win over MSU, making 12 of 13 free throws.

Last season, UNK stunned Mines, 66-57, in Kearney. That was the fewest points the 'Diggers scored all season.
However, CSM came back to beat the Lopers, 77-61, in Golden and in the RMAC tourney semifinals, 82-62.