Kearney, Neb. – Riding a three-game winning streak, the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team remains home this weekend with games against Southwest Baptist and 2014 national champion Central Missouri.

The Lopers host SBU (9-11, 4-10) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with the Mules (13-7, 7-7) visiting Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Check the UNK schedule page for media and ticket links.

Back in December, minus starting senior post Ethan Brozek (Norfolk Catholic H.S.), UNK lost to the Bearcats, 70-60, but rallied past UCM in overtime, 98-95, two days later.

Southwest Baptist stopped a five-game losing skid last weekend with a thrilling 104-98 three OT home win over Washburn.  

Six-six sophomore wing Logan Hovey (14.2) and 6-8, 230 pound junior Brian Patterson (13.0) lead in scoring. A transfer from D1 Florida Gulf Coast, Hovey also leads the team in board work (7.4) and makes 76% of his free throws.

Inside, Patterson is shooting a team-best 55% from the floor and averages 5.3 caroms per appearance. The Three Rivers C.C. transfer went for 25 points and nine rebounds in the win over UNK with Hovey supplying eight points, seven boards, three assists and a block in just 21 minutes.

SBU shoots 45% from the field and has a plus five rebounding margin. They do average nearly 16 turnovers per game.

The Lopers got 39 points, nine rebounds and six assists from senior Connor Beranek to win in Warrensburg back in December. UNK needed all of that production as Memphis transfer D'Marnier Cunningham led the Mules with 38 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

A 5-9 senior guard from Chicago, Cunningham is at 16.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 71% at the line.

Three others are in double digits, including 6-3 sophomore guard Spencer Reaves (12.1). He had 21 points in 44 minutes in the first game against the Lopers. UCM is coming off a home win over Emporia State and is 3-3 on the road this winter.

The NCAA's top free throw shooting squad, UNK is on another hot shooting streak. Over the last four games, the Lopers are averaging nine made threes a night and shooting close to 54% from the field.

Junior guard Josh Sweet (Topeka, Kans.) may have the hottest hand, scoring 32 points over the last three games while coming off the bench. Beranek, among D2's scoring leaders all season, is averaging just over 26 points in the last five games with Brozek having two 20-point efforts of late.

A tough road trip next week features games at Missouri Southern State and Pittsburg State.