Kearney, Neb. – After a long Holiday layoff the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team returns to the court this weekend when Missouri Southern State and Pittsburg State stop by Buckle Court.
The Lions (8-4, 5-1) visit Saturday with Pitt (7-5, 2-4) coming to town on Monday. Both games are set to tip around 7:30 p.m.; check the
Lopers schedule page for media and ticket links.
On Monday, it'll be
#BStrong night.
UNK (5-5, 2-4) has seen its last two seasons ended by Missouri Southern. Both losses came in Kansas City and were MIAA Tournament quarterfinals games.
Lion senior wing Taevaunn Prince will likely battle Loper senior
Connor Beranek (Ravenna) for MIAA Player of the Year honors. The Canadian is at 24.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game and has already sunk 102 of 129 free throws.
Shooting 59% from the field, the 6-3 Price has made seven threes and also has 12 steals and 22 assists. His strong play has helped MSSU move into first place in the MIAA standings.
After losing three non-conference games, the Lions have won five of six league tilts, the latest being a 92-72 decision over Washburn. Besides Prince, MSSU also features sophomore point guard Charlie Brown (14.7 ppg) and senior guard Austin Wright (12.2 ppg).
Pitt also has a premier MIAA talent in Omaha native Josiah Gustafson. The Millard North graduate is at 15.9 points per game, tied for ninth most in the league along with Loper sophomore
Trey Lansman (Harlan, Ia.).
Gustafson is shooting 51% from the field and is even hotter from behind the arc; 54% (27 of 50). Also pulling down 5.1 rebounds a night, his play has helped Pitt win seven of its first eight games. Guards Trey Starks (12.2) and Dakota Jones (11.8) are Pitt's other double digit scorers.
The Gorillas have struggled of late, dropping four in a row. During this stretch, Pitt is averaging just over 60 points per game.
Last year, PSU posted a 101-73 victory over UNK in Kansas. Shooting 61% from the field, four Gorillas were in double figures, including Gustafson. Earlier in the season, the Lopers beat Pitt, 68-6, in Kearney.
Beranek had 25 points in that win with senior post
Ethan Brozek (Norfolk) scoring 13 and adding 13 rebounds. Brozek is expected back this weekend after missing some time due to injury.
Coming off a 39 point, nine rebound and six assist effort at Central Missouri, Beranek leads the MIAA in scoring at 25.5. He has 11 threes to date and ranks second in the MIAA in free throws made with 71.
As a team, UNK is 3-1 on its home court, pushing its mark in Kearney to 16-3 over the last two winters.
Next week, the Lopers head to Lincoln and Lindenwood.
