Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball takes on a reloaded Colorado School of Mines Orediggers squad this Saturday in Golden.

Tip-time is set for 8:00 p.m. (Central). Live stats and an America One broadcast are available.

The 'Diggers, led by longtime head coach Pryor Orser, went 15-14 last year but were among the top teams in Division II during the 2011-12 season (29-3).

Four fifths of that 2012 squad are now back together after 6-4 senior guard Brett Green returned from the disabled list and 6-5 junior wing Trevor Ritchie returned to Mines after spending 2013 at the College of Southern Idaho.

Already earning an undergraduate degree from Mines, Green was a 2012 All-American and has tallied over 1,000 points in his career. Ritchie, meanwhile, was the 2012 RMAC Freshman of the Year (11.0 points and 3.1 assists per game).

Seven other Orediggers stand 6-6 or taller, including senior post Trevor Wages (6-9) and Will Carr (6-11).

Wages, coming in at 255 lbs., has long been a thorn in the Lopers side with Carr (275 lbs.) having last played at D2 power Alabama-Huntsville.

Minus Green and Ritchie, Mines fell to the Lopers, 79-72, last November in Kearney. Wages (17 points & nine rebounds) led the way but
UNK sunk 10 threes and held its own on the boards to pull out the win.

Kearney leads the all-time series, 32-11, but had dropped four straight in Golden.

In a season-opening win over Wayne State, Kearney made five threes and had a plus13 reboundnig margin. Four starters were in double figures, led by junior Tyler Shields (22), with sophomore newcomer Zach Clemens having five of the team's seven bench points.

UNK is at South Dakota Mines next Friday and then welcomes in Chadron State on the 24th.