Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Ravenna senior forward Connor Beranek scored 39 points to help Nebraska-Kearney get past 15th-ranked Central Missouri in overtime, 98-95, Saturday evening in Warrensburg.
 
UNK gets back to .500 (5-5, 2-3) with the Mules (8-3, 2-3) dropping a second straight home game. 
 
Shooting 61 percent in the second half and 53 percent overall, the Lopers were poised for a win in regulation as they led 73-65 with 1:56 to go. Behind Memphis transfer D'Marnier Cunningham, UCM made a run but still trailed 81-77 with just nine seconds left.
 
A three from sophomore guard Spencer Reaves got UCM within one and then Beranek went 1 of 2 at the line. Cunningham, who finished with 38 points, went coast-to-coast in four seconds to force five more minutes.
 
UNK responded well, scoring the first five points, but UCM came back again, tying things at 87 on a three-point play by Kent State transfer Marquez Lawrence.
 
Never trailing in OT, UNK saw junior reserve guard Josh Sweet (Wichita, Kan.) break an 89 all tie with a three from the top of the key. The Lopers then went 6 of 6 at the line with a long three by Cunningham hitting the back of the iron as the buzzer sounded.
 
"We made it interesting but I was proud of our kids. They hung in there; I was having flashbacks to the Colorado Mines game (lost on buzzer beater)", said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "They were stunned for a few seconds. With or without Ethan (Brozek), we have to be tougher than who we are playing against, we have to be more fundamentally sound than who we are playing against and we have to want it more. I think we did all three tonight."
 
To be one point shy of his career high, Beranek was 14 of 15 at the line and 12 of 18 (1 of 4 threes) from the field. Playing all 45 minutes, he also grabbed nine defensive boards and had a team-high six assists.
 
The teams combined for just 13 turnovers with UCM having a slim lead on the glass, 37-34. The Lopers lived at the line, going 29 of 32, with the Miles making only 6 of 11 freebies.
 
Before fouling out late, Iowa sophomore forward Trey Lansman scored 26 thanks to 9 of 17 (1 of 7 threes) shooting). In 36 minutes, he grabbed three of UNK's four offensive boards.
 
"You can't say enough about Connor and Trey. Once Ethan went down, we told our team we need to play through those two guys," said Lofton.
 
Five other Lopers scored between four and eight points including Iowa freshman forward Carter Burns. In his first career start, he had eight points, six rebounds and an assist.
 
A 5-9 senior guard, Cunningham was 17 of 27 (0 of 3 threes) to reach his point total. Playing 39 minutes, he also grabbed seven rebounds (six defensive) and had a team-best five assists.
 
Reaves (21) and Lawrence (19) combined for 40 points and 12 rebounds.
 
UNK hosts Missouri Southern State on January 2nd.