Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior forward Cory Arentsen scored 20 points and the Lindenwood Lions showed off its league leading defense to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 70-63, Saturday afternoon in St. Charles, Mo.
 
The Lions (11-4, 7-2) have won three straight and, at worst, will be in a tie for first place in the league standings after the weekend. NW Missouri State (6-2) is at Missouri Western Saturday night.
 
Kearney (8-6, 5-4), meanwhile, sees a four-game winning streak come to an end. During the streak, UNK was averaging just over 97 points per game.
 
Thanks to a slow down offense and a lineup that features 7-1 senior Stanislas Heili from France, Lindenwood came into the week leading the MIAA in blocks (5.2) and scoring defense (65.1).
 
UNK led for only 17 seconds all afternoon but never trailed by more than nine points. Iowa sophomore forward Trey Lansman carried the load in the first half, scoring 22 of UNK's 24 points as he was 9 of 13 (4 of 5 threes) from the floor.
 
Down 31-24 at the break and 37-28 four minutes into the second half, the Lopers went on a 22-10 run to grab their only lead of the game.
 
Ravenna senior Connor Beranek scored nine of his 20 second half points during this stretch, including a long range three that made it 50-47 with 8:19 to play. Lansman, finishing with a game-high 31 points, hit his only second half trey during this long run.
 
Heili quickly tied things up with a three-point play and then the Lions went 4 of 4 at the line to grab the lead for good. Arentsen, who began his career at Division I Austin Peay (Tenn.) State, converted a three-point play with 3:30 remaining to keep it a two-possession game at 59-54.
 
After another long range bomb from Beranek cut the deficit to two, Arentsen made another bucket. In the final two minutes, he hit a three and his teammates went 6 of 6 at the line.
 
"They are at the top of the league for a reason. They are really skilled and their upperclassmen made some plays down the stretch after we had clawed our way back into it," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "Our guys competed and we gave ourselves a chance in the end. We just didn't get to the finish line."
 
To record his third career 30-point game, Lansman was 11 of 19 (5 of 9 threes) from the field and 4 of 4 at the line. Also having three defensive rebounds, he was four off his career-high point total, set last year at Fort Hays State.
 
Held scoreless in the first half, Beranek went 8 of 14 (4 of 9 threes) over the final 20 minutes. Having a season-high in threes made, he also finished with four rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
 
Inside, Norfolk senior Ethan Brozek had all eight of his points after the break. He also added three blocks and led the team in rebounds with seven.
 
"They have a lot of size on the inside and that gave us problems. We had trouble scoring on the big kid," said Lofton. "We know they are a tough team and we'll see them again in our place. Hopefully, we'll be a better team when they get there."
 
Arentsen reached his point total by going 7 of 16 (3 of 8 threes) from the floor. In 35 minutes, the 6-5 forward also had seven defensive boards and three assists.
 
Heili was a load to handle, almost recording a triple double with 19 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and two assists. The 240 pounder was 9 of 10 from the field and had six of LWU's 10 offensive rebounds.
 
Finally, sophomore guard Brad Newman was 6 of 6 at the line to score 11. The Lions (12 of 12) didn't miss a freebie all evening.
 
Oddly, neither team shot a free throw in the first half as they were five combined fouls called. The Lopers finished 4 of 6 at the charity stripe; they average 18.5 made freebies on the season.
 
UNK hosts Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State next weekend.