Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team finishes the first semester with another tough test, facing 15th-ranked Central Missouri Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg.
The Lopers (4-5, 1-3) will then be off, due to the Division II Moratorium, from December 21-27. They'll return to practice on December 28th in preparation for games January 2nd and 4th.
A short-handed UNK squad has had a tough slate to date, playing teams that are a combined 51-27, good for 65.3 winning percentage. The Lopers have faced No. 24 Colorado School of Mines and five other teams with at least six wins.
Saturday's game against the Mules (8-1, 2-1) tips at 4:00 p.m. Check the Loper
schedule page for media links.
Heading into a Thursday game vs. Fort Hays State, the Mules are coming off a 73-72 win at Emporia State. Their only setback is a 72-58 home decision to No. 25 NW Missouri State.
Second-year head coach Doug Karleskint has a roster with eight transfers, including four from the Division I ranks. UCM makes up for a minus two rebounding margin by forcing 14 turnovers a night and shooting 47% from the floor.
Senior guard D'Marnier Cunningam (5-9, 165 lbs.), a transfer from Memphis, is at 15.9 points, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game with senior wing Roosevelt Scott (6-4, 180 lbs.) at 11.8 points, 4.9 boards and 1.6 steals every night. He previously was at Arizona State.
Also, Kent State transfer Marquiez Lawrence, a 6-8, 200 lbs. junior, is close to averaging a double double (10.4 points & 8.3 rebounds).
Last year in Kearney, UNK scored the final four points in a 65-64 win over UCM. The Lopers rallied from an 12-point second half deficit by making four three throws in the final minute to pull the upset.
The Mules certainly will be keyed in on Ravenna senior
Connor Beranek and Iowa sophomore
Trey Lansman. The former is second in the MIAA in scoring (24.3) with the later averaging an even 22 points over the last three games.
This pair is also the main reason UNK ranks among the league leaders in blocks, coming in at 4.1 a night. Both Beraenk and Lansman have swatted 13 shots with three others Lopers having at least three.
As usual, Kearney has been solid at the line, making 76.3 percent of its freebies to rank third in the MIAA. York sophomore guard
Ty Danielson (94.1%) leads the team with Kansas junior guard Josh sweet second (85.7%).
If UNK can win in the 'Burg, it'll be its first away from home this year. The Lopers have dropped road contests at Southwestern Oklahoma State, Mines, Southwest Baptist and Hays. Those setbacks came be a total of 27 points.
The Blue & Gold begin 2016 with home tilts against Missouri Southern State (6-4, 3-1) and Pittsburg State (7-3, 2-2).
