Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney scored 59 second half points to rally past Washburn, 88-79, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UNK improves to 8-10 (4-7) while the Ichabods slip to 14-4 (7-4).
 
Using its quickness and athleticism, Washburn got out to a 39-29 halftime lead. Eleven of their points came off 10 Loper turnovers with St. Louis U. transfer Jeff Reid tallying 13 thanks to three made triples.
 
UNK, with a height advantage, went inside early and often in the second half. Senior post Mike Dentlinger (Millard North) had 19 of his 21 after the break with sophomore wing Connor Beranek (Ravenna) scoring 16 of his 21 in this half.
 
Shooting 65% (17 of 26) over the final 20 minutes, UNK grabbed the lead back at the 9:35 mark, 56-54, after a three by junior reserve Delquan Thomas (Louisville, Ky.).
 
The teams went back and forth for the next six minutes before Beranek hit a deep three with 2:55 to play to give UNK a seven-point cushion, 76-69.

Ahead 77-71 and with the shot clock winding down, the Lopers again looked to Beranek, who hit a three from NBA range to make it a nine-point game with 1:32 to play.
 
To reach his point total, Dentlinger was 6 of 12 from the field and 9 of 11 at the line. As a team, Kearney sunk 21 of 31 freebies (68%).
 
Beranek was 7 of 10 from the field (4 of 7 threes) and combined with Dentlinger to pull down 16 rebounds. UNK ended with a plus eight rebounding margin thanks to a 21-12 advantage in the second half.
 
Also for UNK, Norfolk sophomore Ethan Brozek had 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists before fouling out late, Kearney junior wing Tyler Shields had 12 points and four boards off the bench and Thomas ended with a season-high 10 points in 15 minutes.
 
Finally, junior point Davion Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.) had eight rebounds, six points and five assists. He was part of an offense that had just four turnovers in the second half.
 
Washburn was paced by junior forward Alex North (16 points & 13 rebounds), junior guard Kyle Wiggins (18 points & three assists) and Reid (19 points, four rebounds & three blocks).
 
UNK hosts Emporia State Saturday afternoon. The Hornets fell at 24th-ranked Fort Hays State tonight, 99-92.