Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team returns to MIAA play this weekend when it travels to Pittsburg State on Thursday night and Northeastern State two days later.

The game with the Gorillas starts at 7:30 p.m. with the tilt against the RiverHawks going off around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Multimedia links for both games can be found on the UNK schedule page.

Both Pitt and NSU are off to 9-1 (2-0) starts. The Gorillas were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA but Northeastern, after a 5-21 effort as an independent in 2011-12, was tabbed for 14th.

Pitt has won six in a row after a 89-79 home loss to Newman (Kans.) on November 20th. The Gorillas went to Las Vegas over the Holidays and picked up non-conference wins against Arkansas-Fort Smith, 84-76, and Dixie (Utah) State, 67-63.
  
Averaging a healthy 80.2 points per game, Pitt shoots 73% at the line and has made almost as many free throws (240) as the opposition has attempted (242). The Gorillas also have a super + 9.6 rebounding margin and great balance as four average in double digits.

True freshman Kaleb Porter leads in scoring (17.8) as he has made 24 of Pitt's 50 three. Inside, 6-6 senior JaVon McGee is at 10.3 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game.
  
The Lopers lead the all-time series, 24-6, but hasn't played Pitt since the 1998-99 season.

The last time UNK played Northeastern was in the 2003 Elite Eight in Florida where the then-Redmen posted a 94-75 victory en route to the National Championship.

This year's turn around is thanks in large part to a defense that gives up only 59.3 points per game. Teams are shooting just 38% against Northeastern, including 30% from the three point line.

Offensively, NSU scores 75 points per night thanks to 50% shooting from the field. Six-foot junior guard Bryton Hobbs (16.6) leads the way as he has made 12 of 28 threes with 6-7 senior forward Jermaine Bransford at 15.6 points and a team-best 8.3 rebounds per game.
    
He also is one of five 'Hawks shooting over 50% from the floor and has sunk 40 of 44 free throws (90.9%) as well.

UNK, coming off an 86-74 win over South Dakota Mines on December 30th, hopes to keep up its hot shooting. The Lopers have shot over 50% in each of the last three games, reaching a season-high 57.4% vs. SDMT.

As usual, Kearney is among the league leaders in free throwing. In a very odd coincidence, the Lopers three leading scorers -- senior Jon Henderson (16.5), junior Mike Dentlinger (14.5) and sophomore Pierre Newton (13.5) -- are each shooting exactly 80.8% at the line.

Both Dentlinger and Newton have made 42 of 52 freebies with Henderson sinking 21 of 26 shots.

UNK returns home next week to take on Missouri Western State (Wednesday) and nationally-ranked Washburn (Saturday).