Kearney, Neb. - After suffering back-to-back one point losses last week, the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball returns home this week to entertain Emporia State (Wed.) and Central Oklahoma (Fri.).

Both games will tip around 7:30 p.m.

To make the MIAA Tournament in March, UNK will need to play better at home. The Lopers (5-13, 2-8) are just 2-5 at the Health & Sports Center with the victories coming against non-MIAA members Colorado School of Mines and South Dakota Mines.

After this week, Fort Hays State, NW Missouri State and Lindenwood all come to Kearney.

Currently, UNK is second in the MIAA in free throw shooting(76.5%) and third in both field goal (46.9%) and 3-point (38.6%) shooting. Individually, sophomore Tyler Shields has been on a tear of late, averaging 15.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in the last four games.

This out burst, in which he is shooting 58% from the field, has made his season average rise by almost two points to 9.8 points per game. Shields has particularly been hot from the three point line, sinking 13 of his last 27 shots.

Led for former Colorado star Shaun Vandiver, Emporia (8-8, 3-5) is coming off a 77-71 home loss to UCO. Before that, ESU had won three in a row.

Standing 6-10 and a former pro player, Vandiver has a team that is 2-6 on the road. Ranking fifth in the MIAA in scoring defense (65.2 ppg) and fourth in rebounding margin (+ 4.6), the Hornets have three players scoring in double digits.

Senior guard Kaleb Wright (14.9) leads with 6-11, 280 lbs. junior Paul Bunch (13.5) close behind. Not surprisingly, Bunch pulls down 8.0 rebounds per game and has blocked 25 shots.

UNK and ESU last met during the 1990 season. The Lopers lead the series, 18-14, but Emporia has won the last five meetings.

The Bronchos (7-10, 5-4) are just 2-6 at home but a solid 4-2 in true road games. All four of those wins have come in conference.

A program long known for high powered offense, UCO is averaging 75.5 points per game, fourth best in the MIAA. They are at that total despite shooting only 64% at the line.

Six-five, 235 pound junior forward Josh Gibbs leads UCO in both scoring (16.6) and rebounding (6.3) while ranking second in assists (47). Sinking a team-best 31 threes, Gibbs shoots 48% from the field.

Another Broncho to watch is 6-6, 220 lbs. senior Spencer Smith. He is at 12.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and has made 20 threes.

UCO, with seven freshmen on its 15-player roster, is 4-0 all-time against the Lopers. The last time the two met, in 1992, UCO posted a 140-128 win in Kearney..

In a very odd twist, UNK's only games after this are back-to-back dates with the Fort Hays State Tigers (Feb. 9 & Feb. 16).