Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball returns to action after a two-week break when it travels to Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri this weekend.
UNK (6-7, 2-2) last played on December 19 when it got hot in the second half to roll past Hastings College, 93-64. The Lopers have already played seven true road games this year and have five more this month.
On Thursday, Kearney is at SBU at 7:30 p.m. with Saturday's game in Warrensburg starting at 3:30 p.m. Check the Loper
schedule page for current media links. Next week, the lone game is a Saturday afternoon affair at rival Fort Hays State.
UNK enters the weekend ranked third in the MIAA in both three point percentage defense (33.9) and threes allowed per game (5.8). Those numbers will be tested against SBU (7-5, 1-2) and UCM (10-2, 2-1) squads that love to let it fly.
The 'Cats average the second most threes in the league (122/10.2 per game) with UCM fourth in that area at 9.1 (109/9.1). Only Missouri Southern State (11) has managed to sink more than nine triples against UNK this year. On the other side of the court, the Blue & Gold average just under eight made treys a night.
Two years ago, UNK won at UCM in overtime, 98-95. The Mules returned the favor last year in the Health & Sports Center, 77-72, and again in the MIAA Tournament quarters, 75-57. Once again, Kearney will play only UCM once this year while hosting SBU in the regular season finale on Friday, February 23.
The Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar has been a "House of Horrors" for the Lopers. Since joining the MIAA, UNK is 0-4 in that building with the setbacks coming by just 18 combined points. In last year's regular season finale, SBU posted a 66-62 win thanks to a 20 of 25 effort at the line and a plus nine rebounding margin.
After this three-game road swing, defending national champ and No. 1 ranked NW Missouri State (12-0, 4-0) comes to town on Thursday, January 18.
Southwest Baptist U. Bearcats
2017-18 Record: 7-5 (1-2)
2017-18 Notable Results: Won at Northeastern State, 92-69; Beat SW Oklahoma State, 74-63
Player to Watch: 6-6 senior wing Logan Hovey (19.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game) and 6-0 junior guard Kai Woodfall (8.9 points per game and 59% from the three point line)
Team Numbers: 82.2 points per game, + 10.6 scoring margin, + 9.6 rebounding margin, - 4.3 turnover margin, 10 made threes per game
U. of Central Missouri Mules
2017-18 Record: 9-2 (2-1)
2017-18 Notable Results: Beat Minnesota-Duluth, 76-60; Won at Southwest Baptist, 78-76; Lost to No. 1 NW Missouri, 79-55
Player to Watch: 6-3 senior guard Spencer Reaves (16.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game) and 6-8, 255 pound junior center Jakob Lowrance (14.6 points per game and 61% field goal shooting)
Team Numbers: 72.1 points per game, + 9.5 scoring margin, - 4.9 rebounding margin, + 5.5 turnover margin, 77% at the line, 9.0 made threes per game
