Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team, after a 10-day break, heads to Missouri this weekend to start MIAA play.

The Lopers (2-2) take on the Missouri Southern State Lions Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. and then head over to Bolivar two days later to face the Southwest Baptist Bearcats at 3:30 p.m.

This marks the second straight year UNK has visited MSSU (5-1) and SBU (5-2). In turn, Lincoln and Lindenwood have to come to Kearney again this winter.  

Both road games can be heard on KGFW AM 1340 and be seen (for purchase) on America One. Also available are live stats; MSSU .... SBU.

Southern has won five of its first six games but has played just two Division II teams in that stretch, beating Eastern New Mexico, 68-65, and falling to Arkansas-Ft. Smith, 74-72.
 
Scoring over 100 points in each of the last three games, Southern has three in double figures in 6-4 junior guard Marquis Addison (16.8), 6-0 sophomore guard Cameron Cornelius (11.5) and 6-6 junior forward Jordan Talbert (10.8).
 
Talbert shoots just 36% from the field but makes 67% of his free throws and leads the team at 8.2 rebounds per game.  Addison, meanwhile, shoots 61% from the field and is one of two Lions with 11 made triple.
 
As a team, Southern shoots 51% from the field and 71% at the line. They have nearly a plus five rebounding margin and also lead the MIAA in turnover margin (+ 3.83).
 
Last year in Joplin, UNK posted a 74-66 win thanks to a double dou­ble by junior Tyler Shields (18 pts. & 12 rebs.). Talbert also went for 18 & 12 as Southern trailed 42-30 at the half.
 
The Bearcats (5-2) have won four in a row after losing to defending nation­al champion Drury, 97-70, bon November 12th. Overall, they are 3-2 vs. D2 competition.
 
Scoring an MIAA-best 92.4 points per game, SBU also leads in 3's made per game (10.4), assists (21.1) and steals (9.6),
 
Giving up 83.0 points per game, SBU is led by 6-7, 190 lbs. junior forward Desi Barmore (19.4 points & 6.3 rebounds pg) and 6-1 senior guard Rashaad Brown-Peterson (17.6 points & 3.3 rebounds pg).
 
Barmore is making an incredible 72% (51 of 71) of his shots as well as 77% of his free throw.
 
Last year against the Lopers, junior guard Preston Guiot (12.8 ppg) had 23 points and nine assists in an 89-88 win. He hit two free throws with three seconds remaining to provide the winning margin.
 
UNK almost won the game as then-senior Jon Henderson hit a three from the top of the key. However, the ball didn't leave his hands until after the buzzer had sounded, thus the shot was waved off.
 
On a more positive note, Kearney gets back the services of senior post Mike Dentlinger this weekend. The oft-injured post missed the end of last season, and the first four games of this year, due to various ailments.
 
The Academic All-American needs just 42 more points to become the 40th Loper to score 1,000 points in a career. Last winter, Dentlinger averaged 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 53% from the field.
 
This will be his first game since February 21st at Washburn.
 
Dentlinger joins a young bunch of Lopers that ranks seventh in the conference in field goal shooting (48%). Sophomore Connor Beranek (20.3 ppg) currently leads the offense with junior Tyler Shields (15.8) and senior post Kendal Glidden (10.3) also in double figures.
 
This same trio ranks 1-2-3 in rebounding as the Lopers are currently plus 0.5 (33.5-33.0) in this area.
 
Next week, Bellevue stops by the Health & Sports Center on Thursday night with Lincoln coming to town on Saturday evening.