Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team, after a rare postponement, gets back to action this week with the start of MIAA play.

UNK (3-3) travels to longtime rival Fort Hays State Tuesday night and then hosts Emporia State on Thursday. The makeup game with Mount Marty (S.D.) College will be Sunday at Kearney High School. Check the Loper schedule page for tip times and media links

The Lopers are currently 2-0 at home, 0-3 on the road and 1-0 on a neutral court. Eight different players have already blocked a shot, ranking UNK fifth in the MIAA (3.33) in blocks per game. Iowa senior reserve forward Carter Burns is first with five while Minnesota sophomore starting post Weston Baker Magrath has four. Last year UNK came in at 3.77 swats a night to rank third in the league.

Freshman Kanon Koster is the only Loper in double figures (16.8) to date and that average places him 11th in the MIAA. He is shooting 46% from the field and 69% from the line while also leading the team in rebounds per game (7.7), assists (3.6) and free throw percentage.

Another first-year Loper, Henry Penner, had made 59% (10 of 17) of his threes to rank third on the team in scoring (7.8). Finally, he is one of eight Lopers between 3.5-7.8 points per game.

Due to finals, UNK gets next week off before hosting Hastings College on Tuesday, December 18.
 

Fort Hays State Tigers (4-3)
Home Record: 4-0
Road Record: 0-2
Notable Games: Beat Colorado Mines, 75-71 (OT); Beat UCCS 67-51; Lost at Newman, 76-75

Players to Watch: #25 Brady Werth, Sr., F, 6-7, 225 lbs. (13.3 points & 6.1 rebounds per game), #11 Marcus Cooper, Sr., G, 6-3, 195 lbs., (12.9 points & 4.3 rebounds pg), #1 Aaron Nicholson, Jr., G, 5-9, 160 lbs. (10.1 points ppg; 14 made 3's)
 
Emporia State Hornets (4-2)
Home Record: 3-0
Road Record: 1-1
Notable Games: Beat SW Minnesota State, 83-74; Beat Rogers State, 82-70; Lost at Newman, 68-58

Players to Watch: #32 Kooper Glick, Sr., F, 6-4, 200 lbs. (15.3 points & 4.8 rebounds pg), #3 Hassan Thomas, Sr., F, 6-8, 225 lbs. (14.7 points & 6.5 rebounds pg), #2 Malik Hluchoweckyj, Sr., G, 6-1, 175 lbs., (13.5 points & 3.8 rebounds pg)
 
Mount Marty Lancers (3-8)
Home Record: 1-4
Road Record: 0-4
Notable Games: Beat Midland, 74-71; Lost at Hastings, 67-60

Players to Watch: #10 Jailen Billings, So., G, 5-10 (11.5 points, 2.9 rebounds & 2.5 assists pg), #22 Colby Johnson, Jr., G, 6-2 (10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds & 2.5 assists pg), #5 Jason Moore, Jr., G, 6-2 (8.6 points & 2.7 rebounds pg)