Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State Tigers renew their rivalry when the two meet this Saturday (Dec. 5) at the Health & Sports Center.

Tip time is 4 p.m. from Buckle Court. This will be the 134rd all-time meeting with the season series being split each of the last three years. The last time a visiting team won came back in February 2017 when the Lopers claimed a 101-88 victory in Gross Coliseum.

UNK (0-2) and the Tigers (0-2) both were off last week. Each team fell at home to Emporia State and Washburn the weekend of November 19.

Hays is led by 6-7, 200 pound senior Jared Vitzum. The 2020 third-team All-MIAA pick is at 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 77% at the line. Last year he totaled 27 points and 17 rebounds against the Lopers.

In the early going senior guard Alvin Thompson (12.5) and true freshmen guard Quinten Rock (10.0) are also in double figures. Hays fell to Washburn 80-78 and 68-66 to Emporia.

UNK lost to the Ichabods by a 69-57 score and to the Hornets on Opening Night, 73-62. The team was down three starters each game. Bellevue redshirt sophomore southpaw Cedric Johnson (15.5) and junior newcomer Darrian Nebeker (12.0) are in double figures with Nebeker also grabbing seven rebounds a night. Johnson is shooting 53% from the floor with the pair combining for 16 of the team's 28 assists to date.

Finally, the Lopers tallied a combined 77 second half points against WU and ESU and 42 points in the first half. UNK comes in shooting 39% from the field and has a plus 2.5 turnover margin. 

Kearney heads to Newman and Central Oklahoma next weekend.