Kearney, Neb. – The 131st edition of the Nebraska-Kearney/Fort Hays State men's basketball rivalry will be this Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

This is the only game this week for both the Lopers (6-13, 1-9) and Tigers (13-6, 7-3). Check the men's basketball schedule page for tip time and media links. A UNK Basketball Alumni reunion is taking place in conjunction with the game.

Back in the first week of December these two met in Gross Coliseum with a veteran Hays squad pulling out a 76-73 win over the young Lopers. Neither team led by more than six points with UNK ahead for 23 minutes. However, the Tigers erased a late three point deficit thanks to back-to-back threes. Down one, the Lopers had the ball and a chance to go ahead with 11 seconds left but a triple try hit iron instead of net. Two FHSU free throws finished the scoring with a longer Loper three at the buzzer misfiring.

Senior post Brady Werth (6-7, 225 lbs.) went for 27 points to lead the Tigers who out rebounded UNK by a 35-24 margin. The Lopers shot 50% from the field, one of four times this winter they've made half its field goals. Junior Chase Winchester (DeSoto, Texas) and freshman Henry Penner (Aurora) had the hottest hands, combing for 34 points on eight made treys.

On the season, Hays is 7-3 in games decided by 10 points with UNK 5-8. The Lopers have won four times on the Buckle court while the Tigers are 2-4 on the road.

Kearney now leads the MIAA in blocks per game at 3.95. No one player has more than 20 but 10 of the 11 available players have at least one swat. Sophomore Weston Baker Magrath (20), freshman Kanon Koster (18) and junior Kyle Juhl (16) are the Loper block leaders. In last Saturday's tilt vs. Missouri Western State UNK had seven blocks, all in the first half, to tie a season-high.

After Saturday, Kearney has eight regular season games left on its schedule, including home-and-away battles with Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern State.