Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball faces the hottest team in the MIAA this Saturday at the Health & Sports in the form of the Fort Hays State Tigers.

Tip-time for the 118th meeting between the two schools is 4:00 p.m.

Veteran coach Mark Johnson has his Tigers (16-6, 10-4) on a six-game winning streak that has them tied for first place in the MIAA along with Central Missouri. On Wednesday night in Maryville, Hays blew a double digit lead but finished on a 10-5 run to edge NW Missouri State, 64-60.

Last Saturday in front of 4,077 fans in Gross Memorial Coliseum, FHSU couldn't miss, shooting 70% (23 of 33) in the first half and finishing 13 of 22 (59%) from behind the three point line to beat the Lopers, 94-68.

Five-eight freshman guard Craig Nicholson had 11 assists and went 6 of 6 from the floor to tie for the team lead in points (16). On the season, a very balanced attack features four in double digits, including 6-7, 220 lbs. post Dwayne Brunson (14.9 points & 7.7 rebounds pg).

UNK (6-15, 3-10) hopes to get back junior post Mike Dentlinger (Millard North H.S.) who missed last Saturday's contest due to injury. He is at 12.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting a team-high 53% from the field.

Senior southpaw Jon Henderson (Salt Lake City, Utah) did tally 19 last week, making 7 of his 14 shots (3 of 5 threes). Among the top shooters in the MIAA, this marked his ninth game with 17 plus points.

The Lopers also got 16 points, 14 rebounds and three assists from reserves Thomas Cooper (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Ben Petersen (Minden) and Drew Sankey (Lincoln East H.S.).

Petersen grabbed a team-high eight boards (seven defensive) with Cooper scoring in double figures for a second straight game.

Kearney returns to the road next week as it visits 25th-ranked Washburn (Thurs.) and Missouri Western State (Sat.). The game against MWSU will be aired live on the MIAA Television Network (not shown in Nebraska).