Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Sophomores Ethan Brozek and Conner Beranek each came up with a big defensive play in the closing seconds to help Nebraska-Kearney hold off Pittsburg State, 82-80, Wednesday night in Kansas.
 
Leading from start to finish, UNK improves to 6-10 (3-7) while the Gorillas fall to 6-9 (2-6).
 
Pitt trailed 81-73 with 1:21 to play but scored four quick points thanks to two free throws and a layup after a steal by reserve guard Connor Kjer.
 
Bernaek (Ravenna) made one of two free throws with 50 seconds to go to finish the scoring for UNK. A three by starting forward Terrell Eaddy helped the Gorillas get within two and then a Loper turnover gave Pitt the ball back with 20 seconds left.
 
Neither team had any timeouts remaining at this point so Pitt ran the clock down, hoping to get the ball into the hands of leading scorer Devon Branch, an Oregon transfer.

However, Brozek (Norfolk) tipped the ball away from Branch with a few seconds remaining. While he got the ball back, his desperation shot was blocked by Bernaek.
 
Ahead by as many as nine points, UNK controlled the paint, having a plus eight rebounding margin and getting a combined 41 points and 16 rebounds from Brozek and senior Mike Dentlinger (Omaha).

Shooting 54.5% (30 of 55) from the field, the Lopers also saw Bernaek have 21 points and four rebounds.
 
Brozek (22 points & 10 rebounds) managed his first double double of the season with Dentlinger supplying 19 points and six boards in 28 minutes.
 
Branch, a 6-6 junior wing from Maryland, finished with a team-high 20 points on 6 of 13 (1 of 3 threes) shooting. He also had five assists, two blocks and a steal.  Also for Pitt, 6-5 sophomore wing Jake Bullard had 16 points thanks to three made triples.
 
UNK hosts South Dakota Mines Friday night.