Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team will try and get a season sweep of rival Fort Hays State when the two meet Saturday in Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. with the Lopers (5-8) and Tigers (4-8) fighting for MIAA Tournament position. This year eight teams will make the league event; UNK is currently in 11th place with Hays 12th. Both are just percentage points from being in the top half of the standings.

Those not in attendance can catch the action via The MIAA Network or on KRVN radio (93.1 FM/106.9 FM). Live stats are available as well.
 
Back in December on Buckle Court the Lopers recorded an 84-80 victory over the Tigers. UNK led by as many as 21 points before Tiger star forward Jared Vitzum (17.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game) got hot to the tune of 19 consecutive points. Having four score in double digits, the Lopers held off Hays thanks to eight late made free throws. Vitzum ended with 29 & 15.

This will be the 135th all-time meeting between the two and the home squad has dominated of late. The last road win in the series came late in the 2016-17 season when UNK ran past the Tigers in Kansas, 101-88. That's also the last time Kearney swept Hays.

Besides Vitzum, FHSU has three others averaging in double figures including true freshman guard Quinten Rock (13.0) and redshirt freshman guard Kaleb Hammeke (11.0). The Tigers are 2-3 at home and allowing 76.8 points per game.

UNK has spent the past four games without redshirt senior guard Sam Morris. The banged-up Lincoln native is at 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He is questionable for Saturday with Alliance senior forward Austin Luger (14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds pg) currently fighting through a bum wheel. He still logged 67 minutes last weekend.

Utah senior guard Jake Walker (15.7) is now UNK's leading scorer on the year. He had a career-high 30 in last Thursday's win at Pittsburg State and has been in double figures in four of the last five contests. Walker has 101 career triples in his Loper career; he sunk 151 in two winters for Snow (Utah) J.C. Finally, UNK is second in the MIAA in opponent three point percentage (28.6). No team has sunk more than eight against the Lopers with the most efficient squad being the Tigers (42.1 pct.; 8 of 19). 

The Lopers return home next week to face Newman (2-10) and Central Oklahoma (4-5).