Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Connor Beranek had his third double double of the season and the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team shot 63 percent in the second half to pull away from Pittsburg State, 91-75, Monday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
A season-high crowd of 3,211 was in attendance for #Bstrong night, honoring the late Paul Beranek. Fittingly, Connor capped a 25-point, 16-rebound effort by driving baseline and throwing down a dunk with 27 seconds left.
 
UNK (7-5, 4-3) has now won three straight while the Gorillas (7-7, 2-6) have dropped six in a row after a hot start.
 
Ahead for all but 19 seconds, the Lopers led 40-28 at the break as they sunk 14 of 16 free throws with most of the free damage was caused by Beranek (9 of 10). UNK also had 10 points off of five Gorilla turnovers with Pitt shooting just 35% from the floor.
 
There was more flow in the second half with Kearney outscoring PSU by four, 51-47. This marks the straight game UNK has gone over 91 points (100.6 avg). 
 
Despite making 20 of 32 shots (4 of 7 threes) in the second half, UNK was still in a battle as the Gorillas cut a 17-point deficit to nine, 84-75, with 2:18 to play. They had a chance to make it an eight point game about two minutes earlier but missed a layup.
 
Beranek and fellow senior Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic H.S.) hit back-to-back buckets before the slam by Beranek made it 90-75. Like Missouri Southern State on Saturday night, Pitt warmed up in the second half, finishing at 53.6% (15 of 28), despite missing their final three shots.
 
"Their record doesn't indicate how good they are. This was only the second game all year they've had all their guys together. We knew it was going to be a 40 minute game and that we had to be solid on both ends of the floor and I thought we did that," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton.
 
To reach his output, Beranek had 12 points and 10 boards in the second half. Four points and four rebounds came on two different possessions as he grabbed his missed shots and finally scored on his third attempt.
 
The 16 rebounds, 11 coming on the defensive end, are one off his career-high, set two seasons ago vs. Lincoln. Finally, he finished 11 of 12 at the line and 7 of 18 from the floor.
 
"Our kids love Connor and we knew it was a big night for him. We talked at shoot around about coming out and doing things with a sense of urgency. We wanted to represent him and ourselves in the right way," said Lofton.
 
Brozek (20), sophomore forward Trey Lansman (17) and sophomore guard Ty Danielson (14) also scored in double digits. Lansman (Harlan, Ia.) made 7 of 11 shots with Danielson (York) having three of UNK's eight threes while Brozek had eight rebounds and a career-best six assists.
 
Pitt was led by reserve guard Trey Starks, who made 7 of 10 shots to tally 19. Millard North graduate Josiah Gustafson ended with 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
 
UNK's busy week continues as they are at Lincoln (9-4, 5-2) and Lindenwood (9-4, 5-2) this weekend.