Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Four starters scored in double figures and Nebraska-Kearney had a plus 25 rebounding margin in an 84-65 win over Northeastern State Wednesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
With the win, the Lopers (13-12, 9-9) greatly enhance their chances at hosting an MIAA Tournament first round game Tuesday night. The 12-team tourney has the first four seeds receiving byes with seeds five through eight hosting games Tuesday at campus sites.
 
Kearney is now tied with Washburn for seventh place with NSU (13-12, 8-10) alone in eighth.  
 
This was a rare night where UNK was the much bigger team and that advantage helped the Lopers pull down 45 rebounds, 12 coming on the offensive end.

Those o-boards led to 20 second chance points. NSU, by way of comparison, had just one offensive carom and no second chance points.
 
The RiverHawks, however, hung around as they made four threes in the first half and shot close to 50% for most of the night. Trailing from start to finish, NSU made it a 60-53 game with 11:53 to go after a layup by reserve guard Keon Littleton.
 
UNK responded with a 9-2 spurt that featured a three by junior point guard Davion Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.) and a three-point play from senior post Mike Dentlinger (Omaha).

The 'Hawks didn't get closer than 13 points the rest of the night as they cooled to 44.4% (24 of 54) shooting. They also went 0 of 5 from behind the arc after the break.
 
Meanwhile, the Lopers shot 53.4% (31 of 58) from the floor, including a 59% (16 of 27) effort over the first 20 minutes.
 
Dentlinger had 15 of his team-high 22 points in the second half and also had seven boards (five offensive). Front court mate Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic) came on strong to finish with a double double (15 points & 13 rebounds).
 
Next, Pearson had 11 points, six rebounds and three assists with Ravenna sophomore Connor Beranek at 17 points, three boards, three assists and two steals.
 
Bryton Hobbs, the MIAA scoring leader at 22 per night, had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists to pace the RiverHawks.
 
UNK hosts Central Oklahoma Friday at 7:00 p.m. The Bronchos (17-8) lost 80-79 at Fort Hays State tonight.