Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior point guard Davion Pearson hit two three pointers in the final minute, including the game winner with three seconds left, to help Nebraska-Kearney slip past Emporia State, 66-65, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
 
The Lopers (9-10, 5-7) have won four straight while the Hornets fall to 14-8 (7-5).
 
To rally from a double digit halftime deficit for a second straight game, UNK needed some heroics in the final 64 seconds. After missing his first five shots from the field, Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.) banked in a three from the top of the key with 1:04 left to cut into a 65-60 deficit.
 
Running the shot clock down, Emporia sophomore southpaw Terrence Moore went base line. Instead of getting shot off or firing a pass to a teammate, he stepped out of bounds with 26 seconds to go.
 
It was then UNK's turn to settle for a final shot. From the left wing, Pearson passed the ball inside and then got it back. Uncovered, he fired up a three that found nothing but the bottom of the net.
 
Fittingly, the game came down to ESU's three point shooting; the Hornets went 7 of 14 from behind the arc in the first half to open up a 40-27 lead.  
 
In the final three seconds, 6-7 freshman Josh Pedersen had his triple from the corner blocked by senior post Mike Dentlinger (Millard South) and then 6-4 freshman Jay Temaat missed a three from the right wing.
 
Temaat's errant shot came with 1.8 seconds left and after a series of timeouts. Emporia finished 10 of 25 from the three point line with Teamaat (3 of 5) having the hottest hand.
 
Using some defensive pressure to disrupt Emporia's offense in the second half, UNK finally got the lead back after Pearson made two free throws with 3:23 to go. However, 6-4 senior wing Kaleb Wright nailed a three from the left corner to give ESU a 61-59 lead and start a 7-1 run.  
 
Getting out rebounded by one but having six fewer turnovers, UNK shot 42% (23 of 55) from the field and 80% (16 of 20) at the line.
 
Dentlinger had another big game, tallying 24 points on 10 made buckets and four made freebies. Fellow post Ethan Brozek (Norfolk) had 11 points and a team-best nine rebounds with Ravenna sophomore wing Connor Beranek at 15 points, nine rebounds and a block.
 
Off the bench, Kearney junior Tyler Shields had five defensive rebounds and two points.
 
Wright led ESU with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists but was 6 of 19 (2 of 5 threes) from the floor. Moore (15) and 6-11, 250 lbs. senior post Paul Bunch (11) also reached double digits.
 
UNK hosts rival Fort Hays State Wednesday night. The Tigers (18-3, 9-3) have won 10 in a row after an 87-85 OT win over Washburn today.