Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team sunk a season-high 13 three pointers to overcome a rocky start and roll past rival Fort Hays State, 86-69, Thursday night on the Buckle Court at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the Lopers (12-4, 5-2) only game of the week and they'll remain in a second place tie in the MIAA standings. Of UNK's final 12 regular season contests, eight will be on the road.

This was the 126th meeting between the two and the Tigers (9-6, 3-4) got out to a 7-0 lead about five minutes in. UNK missed its first seven shots including three from long range. However, things changed quickly as Minnesota sophomore guard Isaiah McKay nailed a triple at the 15:08 mark and the Lopers were off and running.

Kearney went 5 of 11 from behind the arc in the first half to lead 38-30 at the break and then upped the ante by making 8 of 12 triples over the final 20 minutes. This marks the fifth time UNK has had a double digit three point total this winter; they now average eight makes a night.

Reserve freshman forward Kyle Juhl (Harlan, Ia.) had the hottest hand, making 5 of 6 to tally a season-high 17. Not to be outdone, fellow Harlan High graduate Trey Lansman had his fifth double double (15 points & 12 rebounds) of the season.

"It's just what shooting is. I can't explain it. Against Southwest Baptist, we made 80 percent of our free throws. Two days later, in an important game against Central Missouri, we shoot 64 percent," said Loper head coach Kevin Lofton. "It just happens. We've had some other games like this and also nights where we struggle to make four (threes)."

The Lopers held a double digit lead for most of the second half as a three from Chicago junior Yashua Trent made it 52-40 with 14:58 to play. Hays, going 4 of 16 from downtown and just 9 of 16 at the line, trailed by as many as 21 points.

Besides its perimeter shooting, UNK got 29 bench points, committed just eight turnovers and tallied 11 points off of seven offensive rebounds.

"We have good shooters. It's just a matter of seeing a few of them go in and hopefully getting some confidence and building of it. To beat the better teams in this league, we'll need to shoot well from the free throw and the three point lines," said Lofton.

Besides the Harlan Cyclones, Trent finished with 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals with York junior Ty Danielson supplying 11 points, five boards and two assists. Finally, off the bench, freshman energize AJ Jackson (Bellevue West) had four points and four rebounds (two offensive) in 16 minutes.

The nation's 12th leading scorer, Tiger senior guard Rob Davis, tallied a game-high 26 on 10 of 16 (2 of 4) shooting. Also having five rebounds, four assists and no turnovers, he came in at 23.1 points per game. Danielson and Omaha senior Kevin Dineen were in charge of guarding the quick sharpshooter.

UNK is at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State next Thursday. The Bearcats (15-0, 7-0) won 67-54 at Central Missouri tonight and play at Southwest Baptist on Saturday.