Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior forward
Connor Beranek scored 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to help Nebraska-Kearney pull away from Hastings College, 98-74, Sunday night at the Buckle Court.
This was the 191st all-time meeting between the Broncos (6-3) and Lopers (3-1).
The game was a back and forth affair for a while as each club shot well over 50 percent from the field. Hitting seven of its first 10 shots, the Broncos led 18-17 at the 13:09 mark.
UNK started to take control as they closed the half on a 17-9 run. This spurt, making the score 45-37 at the break, featured two triples from junior lefty
Josh Sweet (Topeka, Kans.) and four free throws by Beranek (Ravenna). On the night, the teams combined for 48 fouls and 51 free throws.
"I was a little worried at halftime. We were 4 of 14 from the three point line; I told the guys we were on pace to do what we did at Southwestern Oklahoma (5 of 31 threes),"said UNK head coach
Kevin Lofton. "We don't mind them being aggressive, especially when the pass comes from inside and out to the three point line. But we have an advantage with our bigs inside."
The Lopers made 57% (20 of 35) of its shots in the second half to outscore the Broncos 53-37. Holding a double digit lead for the entire half, UNK saw Beranek score 21 on seven made free throws and seven made field goals.
To record his second double double of the season, Beranek finished 10 of 17 from the field and 13 of 15 at the line. He played 33 minutes with nine of his rebounds coming on the defensive inside.
Dominating inside all night, Norfolk senior post
Ethan Brozek made 7 of 9 shots to tally 16 with Iowa sophomore forward
Trey Lansman going for 20 on 8 of 14 shooting. They both grabbed five boards with Brozek also adding four assists, three steals and a block.
Off the bench, Iowa freshman forward
Carter Burns made 5 of 7 treys to score 15.
Starters Kendall Ferguson (11) and Jake Hansen (10) scored in double digits for the Broncos.
UNK is at preseason No. 10 Colorado School of Mines Wednesday afternoon. The Orediggers (2-1) lost at UC San Diego today, 86-75.
