Kearney, Neb. – A long home stand for the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team continues this weekend as Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri stop by the Health & Sports Center.
UNK (10-3, 3-1) has won the first four of a seven-game home stand that began on December 8th and ends January 12th. The Mules (8-3, 2-1) visit Saturday at 4:00 p.m. with the Bearcats (8-4, 1-2) visiting Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Check the
Loper schedule page for media links.
Kearney is coming off a last second, 69-66 win over NAIA Benedictine College (Kans.) last Friday night. Thanks to a late rally, the Lopers are now 5-2 in games decided by 10 points or less with the two losses coming at the buzzer.
UNK, with a 6-2 home mark, is tied for third place in the MIAA standings. Top-ranked Northwest Missouri State (12-0) and Missouri Southern State (10-3) are both 4-0; UNK is at Northwest on January 19th.
The blue and gold's success to date can be attributed to its work at the foul line. The Lopers are first in the MIAA in free throws made (271) and attempted (343) and free throw percentage (79.0). UNK's top three scorers – juniors
Trey Lansman,
Yashua Trent and
Ty Danielson – have each made at least 59 freebies with Danielson (87.1) and Lansman (83.3) among the MIAA individual percentage leaders.
The Lopers also have a plus 1.6 turnover margin and average 7.5 made triples a night.
SBU, 7-2 at home and 1-2 on the road, is paced by 6-8, 230 pound forward Brian Patterson. The senior is averaging 12.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the floor. Next, Florida Gulf Coast transfer Logan Harvey (6-6, 205 lbs.) is at 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He is shooting 56% from the field and 83% at the line.
As a team, the 'Cats have a plus 12 rebounding margin, make 70 percent of its free throws and make eight threes per game. Last year, UNK fell in Bolivar again, 70-60, but won the rematch, 85-64.
The Mules, 5-0 at home but 1-3 on the road, are led by one of the top players in the MIAA in 6-3 junior guard Spencer Reaves. He is at 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game and also leads his team in steals (17) and threes made (29).
Reaves is aided by 6-6, 205 pounds senior wing Kyle Wolf (13.7 points & 4.4 rebounds pg). UNK won a track meet last December in Warrensburg, 98-95 in OT, and then took the rematch, 57-55, at home.
The Lopers home stand ends next Thursday against rival Fort Hays State. The final 12 games of the year will find Kearney on the road eight times.
