Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team shot 58 percent from the field and took advantage of five technical fouls to make 36 three throws in a 102-90 win over Lincoln Saturday evening at the Health & Sports Center.

This was the only meeting between the Lopers (14-6, 7-4) and Blue Tigers (13-8, 6-6) this year. By winning twice this week, UNK moved up three places to third in the MIAA standings.

To beat LU for the sixth straight time, Kearney went 29 of 50 (8 of 21 threes) from the field and 36 of 38 from the line. Making its first 28 free throws, the Lopers also got 35 points off its bench.

Both of Lincoln's star senior guards, Jaylon Smith and Anthony Virdure, were ejected from the contest. They came into the week both averaging just over 20 points per game.

Smith and Lincoln got off to a quick start, grabbing leads of 5-0 and 15-6. Using its hot shooting, UNK got back into things and took a 38-37 lead on a layup from junior Trey Lansman (Harlan, Ia.) at the 2:57 mark of the first half.

Ten seconds later, while going up court, Smith got tangled with UNK junior guard Ty Danielson (York). Both were whistled for technical fouls with Smith ejected for his being a flagrant two. He finished with 19 points in 17 minutes.

Lincoln still led 46-42 at the break as they nailed two triples in the final 33 seconds. Scoring 22 of his game-high 34 points in the second half, Virdure helped his team remain close.

"They are going to make shots. That's their M.O. Everyone knows how good their guards are. Everybody game plans for them, yet they are able to take and make tough shots," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "We wanted to make sure every three they took was contested; we even fouled them on one."

A three by Lincoln freshman reserve Sam Morris made the score 64-62 with 10:55 left and the Lopers wouldn't trail the rest of the way. Morris finished with a season-high 17 thanks to 6 of 10 (2 of 5 threes) shooting).

Lincoln's last gasp came with 1:17 left after a layup from Virdure cut the Kearney lead to five, 92-87. However, while trying to foul senior guard Kevin Dineen soon after, he was called for a foul and two technicals. The LU bench was also whistled for a tech. Earlier in the half, reserve O'Shai Clark was called for a "T" after UNK made a bucket.

The three late techs led to Danielson making 5 of 6 free throws and Dineen (Creighton Prep H.S.) sinking two more. Danielson finished 17 of 18 at the line, one of the busiest efforts in school history.

"It wasn't pretty but we found a way to pull it out," said Lofton. "Sam (Morris) is a guy we've been trying to get a few more minutes. He's been waiting for a game like this and we were able to get him the minutes tonight. All of our freshmen have been working hard and it's nice to see performances like this from them."

Having a height advantage inside, Lansman went 12 of 15 from the field to tally 30. Going 3 of 4 from downtown, he also had seven rebounds, three assists and played all 40 minutes.

Next, Danielson finished with 24 points, four shy of his career-best effort. He went 3 of 7 from the field and also supplied four assists. Finally, Dineen had nine points, four rebounds, two assists and played tough defense on Lincoln's guards with Chicago junior Yashua Trent at seven dimes, six points and two steals.

Virdure reached his point total by making 12 of 18 (4 of 5 threes) shots. Playing 39 minutes, he also had six assists and four rebounds. As a team, Lincoln went 13 of 22 (59%) from the three point line but was just 11 of 16 at the line.

UNK is at Washburn and Emporia State next week.