Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team welcomes back a familiar face as the Lopers start the second semester Saturday afternoon at Central Missouri.

UNK (4-5, 2-2) faces the Mules (10-2, 2-1) at 3:30 p.m. and then travels up the road to take on Missouri Western State (6-5, 1-2) Monday at 7:30 p.m.

The game can be heard on KGFW AM 1340 and be seen (for purchase) on America One. Live stat links are available on the UNK schedule page.

Norfolk native Ethan Brozek began practicing this week in preparation for these MIAA contests. The 6-7 forward averaged 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during the 2010-11 season for the Lopers.

He spent the last 1 ½ years at Nebraska-Lincoln as a student. Now wearing #32, Brozek has 2 ½ years of eligibility remaining.

An NCAA Tournament team a year ago, Central is off to a solid 10-2 start thanks to a talented and deep attack. They are coming off a 72-71 setback at Northeastern State on December 21st with the other loss being an 81-78 OT decision to St. Mary's (Texas).

Ten different Mules average between seven and 14 points per game with four in double figures. Additionally, 12 players average at least 10 minutes per night.

Junior post Dillon Deck (6-9, 240 lbs.) leads UCM in scoring (13.8), rebounding (5.8) and is second in field goal shooting (58.5%) with Texas Tech transfer Daylen Robinson (6-0, 190 lbs.) at 10.8 points, 5.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.

As a team, UCM averages 81.4 points per game and has a super 8.3 rebounding margin. They also sink seven triples every night.

Last year, the Lopers and Mules met just once. UCM claimed a 78-64 victory in Kearney as they had five score in double digits and sunk 11 triples.

Western, led by first-year head coach Brett Weiberg, upset Fort Hays State in overtime, 82-79, back on December 7th but then dropped a pair of MIAA games in Oklahoma.

Sporting a 5-1 home record, Western features three transfers from Northern Oklahoma College while sinking 8.6 threes per game.

Five-nine junior guard Ryan Devers (14.8) and 6-2 junior guard Cortez Colbert (13.8) lead the offense with 6-7, 230 lbs. senior post Cedric Clinkscales pulling down a team-best 6.8 rebounds per night.

The Griffons are getting out rebound by nearly six per game but commit just nine turnovers per game.

UNK and Western split their two games last winter, each squad winning on the road. In St. Joe, the Lopers won 75-70 in late February thanks to a 15 of 33 effort from behind the arc.

While Brozek may not be in the scouting report for Central and Western, sophomore Connor Beranek certainly is.

The Ravenna native now leads the league in scoring (23.9) after going for 38 points on December 14th vs. Lincoln and then tallying 40 in a 98-96 win over Lindenwood a week later.

For the season, Beranek is shooting 50% from the floor and 85% at the line. Also sinking 14 threes, he leads UNK in rebounds (7.7), blocks (nine) and minutes (35.1 avg).

Junior wing Tyler Shields (Kearney) also played well against the Blue Tigers and Lions, scoring a total of 43 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. He leads the team in triples (24) and ranks third on the team in minutes at 28.8 a night.

Next week, UNK hosts NW Missouri State on Thursday night and then plays at Hastings on Sunday afternoon.