Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Colorado School of Mines shot 59 percent from the field and had all five starters score in double figures to hold off Nebraska Kearney, 91-83, Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
This was the season opener for both teams.
 
Coming off a 25-5 season in which it made the NCAA Tournament, Mines led for most of the night but couldn't completely shake the Lopers.
 
UNK went on an 11-0 run, capped by a bucket from freshman reserve post Trey Lansman (Harlan, Ia.), to make it 56-55 with 13:13 to play. That was Kearney's only second half lead.
 
The Orediggers grabbed the lead back 24 seconds later and eventually went ahead by 10 on two separate occasions. However, UNK hung around, using a three from senior guard Davion Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.) to make it a two point game, 83-81, with 57 seconds to go.
 
After post Caleb Waitsman made a layup nine seconds later, UNK misfired on back-to-back threes. The 'Diggers rebounded the second miss and made two subsequent free throws to finally pull away.
 
"We knew we were going to be hitting on all cylinders to win this game," said UNK co-head coach Tom Kropp. "I thought we can out a little bit sluggish and weren't aggressive enough in the first half. We took the fight to them a bit in the second half but just couldn't get over the hump."
 
Mines finished 34 of 58 (7 of 12 threes) from the field while going 16 of 20 at the line. UNK made just over half its shots (31 of 61) but missed seven of 21 free throw attempts. Using its height advantage, Mines out rebounded UNK by a 34-29 margin with both clubs having 10 turnovers.
 
Individually for the 'Diggers, Waitsman (17 points & 14 rebounds) had a double with wing Gokul Natesan making 7 of 13 shots to also tally 17. In the backcourt, Brian Muller made five field goals and five free throws to reach 17 points with Trevor Ritchie at 15 points, six assists and two steals.
 
Norfolk junior post Ethan Brozek paced the Lopers, finishing with a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds (three offensive). His previous career high of 24 points came last season vs. Central Oklahoma.

To reach his total, Brozek was 12 of 22 from the field and 6 of 9 at the line.
 
Off the bench, York freshman guard Ty Danielson went 5 of 6 from the field (3 of 4 threes) to tally 15 with Pearson having 14 points, five assists and four bards before fouling out late.
 
UNK is off until next Friday at Chadron State