Kearney, Neb. – For the first time since 1987, the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team will play a game in Kansas City and the Lopers hope to stay the weekend.

UNK (15-12) takes on Missouri Southern State in an MIAA Tournament Quarterfinal game Friday night in Municipal Auditorium. The contest will tip no earlier than 8:15 p.m.; there are three other games prior to the Loper/Lion tilt.

Links for audio, video and live stats are available on the men's basketball schedule page.

During its NAIA days, UNK was a mainstay in Kansas City. The Lopers made 12 consecutive national tourney appearances from 1975-87. That included a runner up finish in 1978 and a Final Four appearance in 1982.

In 1972, Kearney State made its second-ever NAIA National appearance, falling to Augustana (Ill.), 103-96, in a game held in Municipal Auditorium. Current co-head coach Tom Kropp was a freshman on that team, averaging 16.3 points & 10.7 rebounds per game.

On Tuesday, UNK picked up its 25 Division II conference tournament win with an 86-80 decision over Lindenwood. Senior post Mike Dentlinger had a career-high 35 points in the victory, Kearney's ninth over the last 12 games.

Back on December 5th in Joplin, Dentlinger (Millard North) played just nine minutes as he was coming back from the disabled list. Junior reserve Delquan Thomas (Louisville, Ky.) didn't play in the 99-79 loss with sophomore post Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic) having yet to join the squad.

A year earlier at MSSU, the Lopers posted a 74-66 win.
 
One of four MIAA teams headed to the NCAA Tournament, MSSU (21-5) has won six in a row and is 4-0 at neutral sites this year.
Ranked third in the Central Region, Southern's top three scorers are all seniors.
 
Six-four guard Marquis Addison (16.7) had 21 in the win over UNK. He shoots 53% from the field and 83% at the line while also having a team-best 45 steals.

Next, 6-6 forward Jordan Talbert is at 12.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He had a double double (18 & 12) in last season's loss to the Lopers. Talbert also has 43 blocks and is second on the team in assists (72).

In the middle, South Alabama transfer Slim Magee comes in at 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. The 6-11, 205 lbs. Magee was 11 of 14 from the field to finish with a double double (27 & 10) in this year's win over Kearney.

He also blocked seven shots and was a big reason Southern had a plus 17 rebounding margin.
 
As a team, the Lions shoot 51% from the field, 41% from the triple line and make 74% of its free throws. Next, they have a plus seven rebounding margin, block five shots per game and force 15 turnovers a night.

Going over 1,300 career points Tuesday, Dentlinger (16.2) is one of four Lopers scoring in double figures. Fellow All-MIAA selections Connor Beranek (17.4) and Ethan Brozek (16.4) are also over 15 points per night with junior point guard Davion Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.) now at 10.6 per game.

In the setback to the Lions, Pearson tallied a career-best 21 points, a mark he tied two days later at Southwest Baptist. Beranek (26) was the other UNK to reach double figures in Joplin.

Currently, UNK is sixth in the league in free throw shooting at 73.2%. They sunk 28 in the win over Lindenwood, the seventh time this season they've made at least 25 in a game.

Four Lopers are shooting 80% or better at the line, led by Beranek (84.7) and freshman Kevin Dineen (80.0).

The UNK/MSSU winner plays Saturday at 8:15 p.m. against the winner of Emporia State and NW Missouri State.