Kearney, Neb. – A four-game home stand for the Nebraska-Kearney basketball teams comes to an end Wednesday night when two nationally-ranked Fort Hays State Tiger squads stop by the Health & Sports Center.

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.

Now 11-0 at home, the Tiger women (15-4, 8-4) are back in the national rankings this week (25th) after upsetting 7th-ranked Emporia State and beating Washburn last week.

The preseason favorites in the MIAA, the 23rd-ranked Tiger men (18-3, 9-3) have won 10 in a row after back-to-back overtime victories over the Hornets and Ichabods.

The UNK men (9-10, 5-7) are also playing well, having won four straight after a last second victory against Emporia, 66-65, on Saturday afternoon.

A deep Tigers squad is led by 5-8, 160 lbs. sophomore guard Craig Nicholson. He ranks fifth in the MIAA in scoring (18.1), thanks to a 161 of 200 effort (81%) at the line. Nicholson also leads in assists (8.0 per game) and is third in steals (2.0).

Next, 6-7, 220 lbs. senior Dwayne Brunson is at 17.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game with 6-3 senior Carson Konrade hav­ing 61 made 3's to average 13.9 points a night.  Brunson had 35 in last year's 82-70 win in Kearney.

The Tigers rank second in the MIAA in scoring (86.3) as they shoot a conference-best 79.6% at the line.

Having a 4-4 road record, the Tiger women lead the MIAA in scoring defense (57.6), field goal percentage defense (35.4%), blocks (7.4) and steals (9.8) while ranking second in rebounding margin (+ 9.0).

Offensively, the Tigers average 26 attempts per game and having more made freebies (335) than its opponent has attempted (323).

Six-four junior post Kate Lehman leads in scoring (15.5), rebounding (11.0), blocks (5.1) and field goal shooting (57%). She is the MIAA block and rebounding leader as well.

Next, Division I transfers Chelsea Mason (Kennesaw State, Ga.) and Katelyn Edwards (South Dakota) both average in double figures.
A 6-0 Crete native, Edwards is at 13.1 points & 8.6 rebounds per game with Mason, a 5-9 Bellevue sophomore, averaging 13.2 points and 2.5 boards a night.

The UNK women (7-12, 3-9) were close to two upsets last week but fell to Washburn by 12 and to Emporia by nine. A smaller Loper team dominated the glass in each contest but sub-40% field goal shooting hurt the chances at victory.

Junior post Amarah Williams (12.3) now leads the squad in scoring after back-to-back double doubles with sophomore guard Laramey Lewis (9.3) having reached double digits in three of the last five games.

To win four straight, the Loper men have held its last four opponents under 80 points. Offensively, Kearney is getting a combined 30 points and 12 rebounds per game from posts Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic) and Mike Dentliniger (Millard North).

Not to be outdone, sophomore wing Connor Beranek still leads in scoring (17.8) and rebounding (6.6).

On Saturday night, UNK heads to Topeka to face Washburn.