Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team hopes to continue its winning ways when it hosts the Lindenwood Lions in an MIAA Tournament First Round game Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

Tip time is 7:00 p.m. with the game available on KGFW AM 1340 and America One video webcast. For free, live stats are available as well.

In the only matchup between the two this season, the sixth-seeded Lopers (14-12) got 40 points from Ravenna sophomore Connor Beranek to outscore the 11th-seeded Lions (11-18), 98-96, in Kearney.

Junior guard Darris Smith tallied 31 for LWU, who led for much of the night before a Loper rally. A UNK turnover with a few seconds left gave the Lions a chance to win or force OT.

However, junior Davion Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.) stole the ball with four ticks left to preserve the win for Kearney.

Led for former Wisconsin and Saint Louis head coach Brad Soderberg, LWU averages 75.6 points per game with a plus one rebounding margin.

Having a minus three turnover margin, the Lions are paced by Smith (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds & 3.2 assists pg) and senior backcourt mate Tyler Ressel (14.5 points & 2.7 rebounds).

Six-six junior wing Garrett Reeg (10.0 points & 6.8 rebounds) is the team's top interior player with six others averaging at least 10 minutes per night.

Last year, LWU went 19-7 but didn't take part in the MIAA Tournament due to their transition from the NAIA. In their 2013 season finale, they won 84-75 at UNK.

The Lopers are 11-2 in the H & S Center this season and are hoping to return to Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City for the first time since the 1987 NAIA National Tournament.

Four starters and a reserve average are in double figures with UNK having a plus two rebounding margin. They also make 73% of their free throws.

Beranek (team-best 17.5 ppg) is coming off a 23 point night vs. Central Oklahoma, his 11th game of 20 or more points. This season, the Lopers are 12-4 when he tallies 15 or more points.

Up front, Norfolk sophomore Ethan Brozek has had three double doubles over the last five games. He tied his career-high point total (24) vs. UCO to be at 16.8 per game for the season.

Not bad for someone who was a student at UNL the last 1 ½ years.

The UNK/LWU winner plays Friday night at approximately 8:15 p.m. against the third-seeded Missouri Southern State Lions (21-5).