Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney basketball teams return home Thursday night for a date with the Pittsburg State Gorillas.

On "Think Pink" Night, the women tip at 5:30 p.m. and the men around 7:45 p.m.

The doubleheaders can be heard on KGFW AM 1340 and available (for purchase) on America One. Live stat links are available on the UNK schedule page.

Back on January 22nd in Kansas, the Loper men (11-10, 7-7) claimed an 82-80 victory with the Gorilla women (17-6, 10-3) needing overtime to get past UNK, 83-73.

The Pitt men (7-13, 3-10), sporting a 1-8 road record, have dropped three in a row and seven of eight.
 
Six-six junior guard Devon Branch, a Maryland native who played at the U. of Oregon, is averaging the second most points (20.9) in the MIAA as he shoots 52% from the field and 76% at the line.
 
Having eight made 3's, Branch averages six made free throws per game. He also supplies 4.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
 
Never trailing on January 22nd, Loper posts Ethan Brozek and Mike Dentlinger combined for 43 points and 11 rebounds; Branch had 20 points and five assists for Pitt.
 
Among the MIAA teams vying for an NCAA Tournament slot, the Gorilla women are 5-3 away from home and have won seven of nine.
 
PSU is led by one of the MIAA's top players in 5-11 junior lefty Lizzy Jeronimus. The only Gorilla in double digits, she ranks second in the league in scoring (19.2) and free throw shooting (83.6%) while ranking in the top 15 in rebounding (6.9) and field goal shooting (45.9%).
 
Jeronimus had a season-high 31 in the 83-73 OT win over the Lopers on January 22nd. She went 10 of 23 from the field and 11 of 13 at the line, scoring 14 of her points in the last 2:40 of regulation and OT.
 
Forcing 15 turnovers per game, Pitt has eight players averaging between 4.3-8.2 points per game. That large group includes 6-2 sophomore post Kylie Gafford (34 blocks). Loper senior Sarah Hix (28 points; 5 of 8 3's) had a career-night vs. the Gorillas.
 
Coming off a 61-53 win at Washburn, the UNK women (8-13, 4-10) are battling for a spot in the MIAA Tournament and are hoping to stop a three-game home losing streak.
 
Junior post Amarah Williams (St. Louis) has been on fire, having tallied 21 in the win over Washburn and a career-best 23 in a loss to No. 7 Emporia State.
 
The Loper scoring leader (13.0 ppg), she ranks in the MIAA to 10 in field goal percentage (50.2%) and blocks (1.2).
 
On the perimeter, senior point Nicole Arp (Kearney H.S.) has handed out 23 assists the past three games, pushing her season total to 96 and her career total to 241.
 
To win six in a row, the UNK men are doing it on both sides of the court, shooting an even 50% from the floor and sinking 23 free throws nightly.
 
Defensively, the Lopers are giving up 76.7 points the past six games (80.9 season avg.) and allowing 18 free throw attempts per contest.
 
Dentlinger (59.3) and sophomore wing Connor Beranek (58.9) have hit the mark during the win streak and both have gone 32 of 38 at the line (84.2%).
 
Next week, Kearney heads to Emporia State (Wed.) and Fort Hays State (Sat.).