Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior guard Ryan Devers scored 35 points to help the Missouri Western State men's basketball team hold off Nebraska-Kearney, 89-82, Monday in St. Joseph.

The Griffons are now 7-6 (2-3) with the Lopers dropping to 4-7 (2-4).

Devers, a 5-9, 170 lbs. native of Tulsa, came in averaging a team-best 15.8 points per game. He doubled that and some more by going 10 of 17 from the floor (3 of 5 threes) and 12 of 15 at the line.

Scoring 22 in the second half, Devers also had six assists, five rebounds and a steal in 37 minutes.

Western, scoring 26 of its points off 18 Kearney turnovers, led by as many as 14 points but had to go 11 of 12 at the line in the final 1:27 to keep UNK at bay.

Down 73-60 with five minutes remaining, the Lopers went on one last surge that saw them get the deficit to four after a three point play by senior post Mike Dentlinger (Omaha).

The Griffons responded with a bucket and a free throw before junior Davion Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.) nailed a three to make it 78-74. That, however, is when Western started making free throws to salt things away.

Shooting 53.8% (28 of 52) from the field, MWSU also sunk 26 of 35 free throws (74.3%). UNK had a plus 12 rebounding margin but had nine more turnovers.

Besides Devers, Western got 15 points, five rebounds and five steals from guard Cortez Colbert and 11 points and six rebounds from reserve Dareon Jones.

Dentlinger had his best effort to date, going for 25 points thanks to 7 of 8 field goal shooting and a 11 of 12 effort at the line. He also had nine rebounds (seven defensive) and an assist in 28 minutes.

Pearson (13) and junior forward Tyler Shields (11) were the other Loper starters in double figures. Off the bench, Benkelman senior post

Kendal Glidden had eight points and four boards (three offensive).

UNK hosts NW Missouri State Thursday night and then is at Hastings Sunday afternoon.