Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 11th ranked Metro State men's basketball forced 21 turnovers and ended the first half on a key run to get past Nebraska-Kearney, 83-73, Saturday night in Denver.
 
The Roadrunners (19-5, 14-5 RMAC) bounce back from a loss to Chadron State Friday and now lead the all-time series with the Lopers (13-9, 11-8 RMAC) by two games, 29-27.
 
Trying to overcome the loss of point guard Quinston Reggins and post Mike Dentlinger, UNK got double doubles from senior forward Chris Deans (15 points & 15 rebounds) and freshman forward Ethan Brozek (23 points & 15 rebounds).
 
However, the Lopers saw starters Max Froehlich (four assists) and Jon Henderson (22 points & three assists) foul out with the 21 turnovers leading to 24 points for Metro.

Metro took control of the contest thanks to a 20-12 run that encompassed the last 7:53 of the first half. During this stretch, the 'Runners scored eight points off Loper turnovers and saw post Jonathan Morse (15 rebounds) score seven of his 19 points.
 
The 'Runners momentum continued as they opened up a 50-37 cushion by the 17:48 mark of the second half.

UNK hung around, cutting the deficit to 73-70 after Brozek made one of two free throws with 3:46 to play. However, after the Lopers rebounded Brozek's miss, they turned the ball over and Metro got a bucket from RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Reggie Evans (game-high 26 points).
 
About two minutes later, the 'Runners opened up a 78-70 lead after the UNK bench was called for a technical foul. The technical came right after a Loper turnover.
 
Getting out rebounded 48-38, Metro shot 43.5 % (30 of 69) from the field and recorded 10 steals. Evans reached his point total by making 11 of 24 shots. He also supplied eight rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes.
 
After a 17 point effort Friday at Regis, Brozek (Norfolk Catholic) reached his season-high point total by going 10 of 15 from the field. Working around four fouls, eight of his rebounds came on the offensive end and he also had three assists and two steals.
 
Deans (Hemingford) sunk two of the team's seven triples with nine of his boards coming at the defensive end. Finally, Henderson tallied 16 of his 22 points in the first half.
 
UNK is at Nebraska-Omaha on Wednesday night and then hosts CSU-Pueblo and Colo.-Colo. Springs next weekend.