Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team heads to the Black Hills Friday night but returns home two days later to face an in-state rival.

The Lopers (1-1) play at Division II independent South Dakota Mines Friday at 8:30 p.m. Central and then host Chadron State Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

An America One broadcast is available for both games, as is a radio broadcast on KGFW.com. Live stats can be seen for the Loper/Eagle contest as well as the Loper/Rocker tilt

Last year, South Dakota Mines went 17-9 (3-6 vs. D2 schools). That included a 79-71 home court victory over the Lopers early in the campaign. UNK came back to beat Mines at the Health & Sports Center, 86-74.

This 'Rocker bunch is 2-3 and coming off a 79-68 road loss at Chadron. A very balanced attack features four starters averaging double digits with Mines also having a + 0.4 turnover margin.

However, they get out rebounded by nearly four per night. Six-four senior guard Lance Kilburn (13.2) is the team's leading scorer thanks to a 9 of 18 effort from behind the arc with 6-8 senior post Caleb Stockman at a team-best 6.4 boards per game.

Besides Mines, Chadron (3-0) has also beaten NAIA member Dickinson State and NCCAA member Grace (Neb.). Eighth-year head coach Brent Bargen has a roster with players from all over the country but his 6-5 son, Zac, is one of the Eagles top scorers.

A transfer from Butler County C.C., Bargen is at 12.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He is shooting a solid 74% at the line and averages 22 minutes a night.

Like Mines, Chadron has a lot a balance with three others in double digits. That includes 6-5 senior reserve guard Grant Stone (team-high 13.0 ppg.), who is shooting 61% from the field.

In the last two meetings with the Eagles, UNK has posted wins by scores of 96-75 and 86-63.

On the young season, UNK has a + 0.5 rebounding margin but a -2.5 turnover margin. Sophomore Connor Beranek (17.5) and junior Tyler Shields (16.5) rank 1-2 in scoring as they pair have combined to sink 14 threes.

Shields also is pulling down a team-best 9.0 rebounds per game.

Kearney gets an extended break after Sunday, not playing again until Thursday, December 5th, at Missouri Southern State.