Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team returns home this weekend to host two Oklahoma schools.
Currently in a three-way tie for fifth place in the league standings, UNK (8-6, 5-4) battles Central Oklahoma Thursday night and Northeastern State Saturday afternoon. Check the
Loper schedule page for media and ticket links.
Under first-year head coach Tom Hankins, formerly a Division I assistant, UCO is 3-2 at home and 3-6 on the road. The Bronchos (7-8, 3-6) have won at first place Lindenwood, 66-59, and are coming off back-to-back home wins over Emporia State and Washburn.
A balanced attack is led by junior guards Cornell Neal (14.3 points per game) and Kendahl Amerson (14.1). Neal also leads the 'Chos in assists (3.6) and steals (1.6) with Amerson having sunk a team-best 32 threes.
Inside, UCO has seven players standing 6-6 or taller but they only have a small plus rebounding margin. Six-four guard Garen Wright (6.1) leads in board work with 6-6 senior Trai Jordan first in blocks (1.1).
Last year, UNK beat UCO in Kearney, 83-80, with the 'Chos posting a 74-69 victory in Edmond.
Giving up 82.4 points per game and shooting 67% at the free throw line, Northeastern State (4-9, 3-6) has a plus 2.2 rebounding margin and sinks seven threes per game. Second-year head coach Jason Tinsley has a quad that is 0-7 to date on the road; they play at Fort Hays State Thursday night.
Individually, senior guard Trey Mohair (14.8) and senior forward Dakota Caudill (12.9) lead in scoring with Caudill first in rebounds (5.3).
In 2014-15, UNK beat NSU twice; 81-59 in the H & S Center and 71-60 in Tahlequah.
Of late, the Lopers' offense has been riding high, to the tune of 90.4 points and 53% field goal shooting over the last five games. Always solid at the line, UNK has upped the ante so far this year, currently ranking third in NCAA Division II at 80.2%. That would smash the school record of 78.1%, set in 2010-11.
Senior
Connor Beranek (Ravenna) also is chasing a school record. During the 1986-87 season, eventual NBA player
Bart Kofoed averaged 26.7 points per game to set the Loper standard. Then-Kearney State College was 26-8 that winter.
The reigning MIAA Player of the Year and seven-time MIAA Player of the Week is currently at 25.7 points per game, second best in the conference and third in Division II. Those ahead of Beranek are Missouri Southern State senior Taevaunn Prince (25.9) and senior Seger Bonifant of West Virginia's West Liberty University (27.4).
Whatever records Beranek may set, Iowa sophomore
Trey Lansman may break someday down the road. The forward has been red hot of late, shooting 63% over the last six games to have a sparking 24.2 scoring average.
On the season, the pride of Harlan leads the MIAA in three-point shooting at just over 50% (30 of 59).
Next week, UNK faces first-place NW Missouri State Thursday night and Missouri Western State on Saturday evening.
