Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior forward Connor Beranek made two free throws with 14 seconds left and Central Missouri missed four shots in the last eight seconds as the Lopers upset the 8th-ranked Mules, 65-64, Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UNK is now 8-3 and 4-1 in the MIAA while UCM, the defending national champions, fall to 11-2 (2-2).
 
In a very physical game, it was a bit fitting the game came down to free throws. The Mules led for most of the night but UNK never let them get ahead too far and grabbed the lead back midway through the second half.
 
It was back and forth from that point on with the Lopers leading by as many as four points. UCM senior guard Rakeem Dickerson gave his team a 62-59 lead after hitting a jumper with 1:39 left. However, junior forward Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic H.S.) responded with a layup nine seconds later.
 
After a put back bucket by senior Kyle Wolfe pushed the Mule lead back to three, Minnesota freshman Isaiah McKay drove the lane with 48 seconds left and was fouled. He sunk the subsequent free throws but UCM had a chance to run down the clock and push its lead back to three again.
 
With the shot clock running out, senior post Brennen Hughes missed a layup in the lane that was rebounded by Beranek, his 16th and final defensive carom of the night. On the play, Dickerson was called for a foul.
 
UNK came in shooting 77% at the line but was just 15 of 23 (season-low 65%) tonight. However, Beranek made the two freebies to finish the night's scoring.
 
In the final eight seconds, Dickerson missed a jumper but tied up Loper reserve guard Kevin Dineen (Creighton Prep H.S.) to allow UCM to keep possession. After a timeout, Hughes missed a driving layup, senior guard TJ White's shot was blocked by UNK freshman Trey Lansman (Harlan, Ia.) and a last ditched attempt by Dickerson was well short.
 
"We really played good defense for 40 minutes. In the first half, we missed five or six layups and turned the ball over 11 times. Seven or eight of those were unforced but we were playing good enough defense to still be in it," said UNK co-head coach Tom Kropp. "Defense is a constant; if we can come out and defend like that every night, we have a chance to have a real good season."
 
Beranek (Ravenna) finished with 17 points and those 16 rebounds. He was 5 of 13 from the field and 7 of 10 at the line while also blocking three shots and working around four fouls.
 
Brozek (18 points, seven rebounds & four assists) and Lansman (nine points, four blocks, two rebounds & two steals) also were called for four fouls.
 
"Our kids had to play smart. Tonight, it was a very physical game for both sides," said Kropp. "Connor, Ethan and Trey played smart the last five or six minutes. They each played good body position defense and having three 6-6, 6-7 players out there at one time is something we might do more of."
 
Finally for UNK, freshman guard Ty Danielson (York) went 4 of 6 from the three point line to tally 12.
 
The Mules were led by Wolfe (12 points & 12 rebounds), senior reserve post Dillon Deck (team-high 16 points), Hughes (14 points & seven rebounds) and Dickerson (nine points & six assists). Dickerson and White were held in check by the Loper defense, combining to go 4 of 22 from the field.
 
UNK hosts Missouri Western State Monday night. The Griffons lost 85-60 at Washburn tonight, dropping their record to 5-6 (1-3).