Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team heads to Oklahoma this weekend to start the 2015-16 season, facing Southern Nazarene and Southwestern Oklahoma State.

The games, part of the SWOSU Classic in Weatherford, will be played Friday at 2:30 (SNU) and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. (SWOSU). Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

In the 12-team preseason Great American Conference (GAC) poll, the Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs were picked fifth with the SNU Crimson Storm five points behind in sixth.

A relatively new Division II program from Oklahoma City, Southern Nazarene went 13-14 (9-11 GAC) last season under eighth-year head coach Adam Bohac. Returning two of its top five scorers, the Storm will be led by 6-1 junior guard LB Willis and 6-0 senior guard Garrett Butler.

Willis led NSU in scoring (13.7) last season as he shot 63% at the line and 42% from the field. He also grabbed 5.4 rebounds and handed out 4.4 assists per game. To rank fourth in scoring (8.9), Butler sank a team-best 61 three pointers. Shooting a solid 45% from behind the arc, he appeared in all 27 games with four starts.

Inside will be 6-7, 250 lbs. sophomore Garrett McGrady and 6-11, 250 lbs. freshman Noah Starkey. As a team, Southern Nazarene had a -2.6 rebounding margin in 2015 but averaged just 13 turnovers a night.

The tournament hosts have five seniors on their roster, each standing 6-4 or taller. That includes 6-8, 220 lbs. forward Juwan Newmen from Division I Central Connecticut State.

Coming off a 16-13 (9-11 GAC) season, the 'Dawgs are led by 6-5, 200 lbs. senior wing Martell Collins. He almost averaged a double double as a junior (15.5 points & 8.5 rebounds) while shooting 74% at the line.

The other key returner is 6-4 senior Emeche Wells (9.2 points & 4.5 rebounds). Third-year head coach Bob Battisti saw his team shot 39.5% from the field last year but made up for that by having plus margins in rebounds (2.7) and turnovers (1.3).

UNK has never faced SWOSU or SNU in men's basketball.

The Lopers enter the weekend with a veteran team, led by seniors and 2015 first-team All-MIAA picks Connor Beranek (Ravenna) and Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic H.S.).

The "Killer B's" combined for 37 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals every game last season. Beranek is the reigning MIAA Player of the Year has scored 1,531 points in college while Brozek joined him as Lopers to shoot 55% from the field in 2015.

Forward Trey Lansman (11.8 points & 4.2 rebounds) and guards Ty Danielson (7.7 points & 2.3 rebounds) and Isaiah McKay (9.1 points & 1.9 rebounds) were among the MIAA's top freshmen in 2015. The trio, along with fellow second-year player Lane Rohrich (Pierce), combined for 135 made three pointers.

Also back is junior guard and defensive stopper Kevin Dineen (Creighton Prep H.S.) with the newcomer class included junior college transfer Josh Sweet (Topeka, Kans.) and post Carter Burns (Ankeny, Ia.).

UNK has two home games next week, facing Chadron State Wednesday and Hastings College on Sunday.