Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior Connor Beranek scored 35 points to help the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team lead from start to finish in an 87-73 win over Lincoln Thursday night in Jefferson City, Mo.
 
The Lopers (8-5, 5-3) win a fourth straight game and hand the Blue Tigers (9-5, 5-3) its first home loss of the season.
 
These were the top two scoring teams in the MIAA at the start of the week, Lincoln at 86.1 points per game and UNK, due to a recent offensive surge, at 83.5.
 
Kearney went over that average thanks to 50% (27 of 54) shooting from the field, including a 9 of 19 effort from behind the arc. As usual, UNK was solid at the line, making 24 of 26 shots.
 
On the other hand, Lincoln shot a respectable 44% from the floor but was just of 2 of 16 from three point land. They came in making 40% of their treys.
 
While UNK never trailed, the Lopers also never held a lead bigger than 14 points. Two free throws by freshman reserve post Carter Burns (Ankeny, Ia.) made it 38-26 late in the first half but Lincoln rallied to trail by just three, 40-37, at the break.
 
In the second half, a Beranek layup with 11:46 to go made it 54-65 and Lincoln didn't get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
 
Having his fourth 30 point effort of the season, Beranek (Ravenna) scored 19 of his 35 in the second half. The nation's fourth leading scorer, he finished 11 of 20 from the field (2 of 3 threes) and 11 of 12 at the line. He also had nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
 
"The first thing I see is that he had seven defensive rebounds. We could've really jumped out big on them early on but they were able to get a couple of offensive rebounds and put backs," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "He was clutch at the free throw line and he did a great job of leading the team when we got into some foul trouble."
 
Despite ending with four fouls a piece, Norfolk senior Ethan Brozek (14) and Iowa sophomore Trey Lansman (16) combined for 30 points. Brozek also added seven boards and two assists with Lansman going 4 of 6 from downtown.
 
Off the bench, Burns had nine points, four defensive caroms and a steal.
 
"It's really hard to win on the road in this league. (First place) Northwest Missouri State came in here and couldn't get it done," said Lofton. "We've been through a lot as a team to this point. In some ways, its' kind of toughened us up and given us a bit of an edge."
 
Lincoln's star guard, junior Anthony Virdure, went 13 of 26 from the field (1 of 8 threes) to score a team-high 32. Also grabbing eight rebounds and blocking two shots, he came into the night averaging just over 23 points per game.
 
UNK did hold guard Jaylon Smith to nine points, 11 below his average.
 
Kearney heads to Lindenwood Saturday afternoon. The Lions improved to 10-4 (6-2) with a 68-49 win over Fort Hays State tonight.