Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Mike Dentlinger scored a career-high 35 points and the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team made 28 free throws to hold off Lindenwood, 86-80, Tuesday night in an MIAA Tournament first round game at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UNK (15-12), the sixth seed, advances to Kansas City to take on third-seed Missouri Southern State (21-5) Friday at approximately 8:15 p.m.
 
Earlier this year in Joplin, the MSSU Lions beat the Lopers 99-79 but Dentlinger (Millard North) played only nine minutes coming back from the disabled list, junior reserve Delquan Thomas (Louisville, Ky.) was out with an ailment and sophomore forward Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic) had yet to rejoin the team.
 
Tonight against a LWU Lions squad (11-19) that was down to nine players, UNK led from start to finish. With Brozek picking up two early fouls, the Lopers went to Dentlinger early and often. He made nine of his first 11 shots to score 20 first half points.  
 
As a team, the Lopers were red hot for the first 35 minutes, making 19 of their first 33 shots (58%) to lead 45-32 at the break and 55-32 four minutes into the second half.
 
That's when the tide turned. Lindenwood made 17 second half shots, six from behind the arc, while UNK had only five goals over the last 15 minutes. 

A three by junior guard Darris Smith made it 77-72 with 1:35 to play. Dentlinger followed with a bucket and UNK made seven free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
 
Having a plus seven rebounding margin, UNK ended up shooting 47.4% (27 of 57). Both clubs committed nine turnovers with the Lions making 18 of 20 freebies.
 
Dentlinger finished 12 of 16 from the floor and 11 of 11 at the line. Also having three boards and two assists, his previous career-high of 30 came three years ago vs. Colorado State-Pueblo. He also went over 1,300 career points (1,316), just the 20th Loper to do so.
 
Ravenna sophomore Conner Bearnek went 8 of 9 at the line to tally 17 with Las Vegas junior point guard Davion Pearson at 11 points, six rebounds, four dimes and no turnovers.

Off the bench, Benkelman post Kendal Glidden had four points, four boards (three offensive), two assists, a block and steal.
 
Smith had 21 points and five assists to pace the Lions. He had 31 in LWU's 98-96 loss to UNK in December.