Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior forward Connor Beranek scored 32 points, thanks to a career-high eight three pointers, as Nebraska Kearney routed Northeastern State, 83-59, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UNK improves to 9-5 (5-3) while the RiverHawks, from Tahlequah, Okla., drop to 3-12 (1-7).
 
All 12 Lopers who dressed scored as Kearney shot a season-best 62.0% (31 of 50) from the field. UNK led by as many as 30 points and trailed for only 14 seconds. 
 
A depleted Northeastern State squad used seven players with only two standing taller than 6-4. Their aggressive zone defense made it tough for UNK to get the ball inside so the Lopers bombed away from behind the arc, finishing 13 of 24 (54.2%).
 
Beranek (Ravenna) did most of the damage from long distance, going 5 of 8 in the first half and 3 of 4 in the second half. Mike Hancock (1998/vs. Ft. Hays State) and Akeem Morissaint (2010/at Metro State) share the school record for threes made in a game, each sinking nine. 
 
Coming into the night, Beranek was just 13 of 35 (37.1%) from three point land on the season.  
 
This marks Beranek's fourth career game of 30 or more points; he also scored 32 at Lincoln on December 20th. His career best of 40 came in a December 2013 home win over Lindenwood.
 
"Connor is one of the best shooters we've ever had in our program and I've followed UNK for over 35 years," said co-head coach Tom Kropp. "In our last game, he was 1 of 3 from the field. We've been telling him we need more shots out of him and, tonight, he hit a couple early to get going."
 
Going 11 of 17 from the field and 2 of 2 at the line, Beranek also grabbed seven defensive rebounds, handed out three assists and blocked three shots in 29 minutes.
 
When the ball did penetrate the 'Hawk zone, junior forward Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic H.S.) didn't miss, going 5 of 5 from the field to tally 12 points. He also had a team-best eight rebounds (six defensive).
 
Next, freshman forward Trey Lansman (Harlan, Ia.) hit two threes to also score 12 with freshman point guard Isaiah McKay (Brooklyn Park, Min.) going 2 of 3 from downtown to score six. He also had four assists and no turnovers.
 
NSU, which shot 38.9% (21 of 54) from the field, was led by post Dakota Caudill who had 17 points, two blocks and two assists.
 
UNK hosts Central Oklahoma on Saturday night. The Bronchos (12-4, 5-2) lost to Fort Hays State, 82-72, on Thursday.