Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team heads to No. 1 Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western State this weekend to end the 2020-21 regular season.

UNK (8-12) is at Northwest on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. followed by a 3:30 p.m. start Saturday in St. Joseph. Those not in attendance this weekend can catch the action via The MIAA Network or on KRVN radio (93.1 FM/106.9 FM).

The Bearcats (19-1) are number one in both NCAA Division II polls this week; they recently wrapped up another MIAA regular season title and are 150-7 since the start of the 2016-17 season. One of those losses came to the Lopers in January 2018, 66-59. UNK has pushed Northwest in each of the last two meetings, falling 73-63 on January 18 in the Health & Sports Center and lostng by only a 65-60 score last year in Maryville.

Junior guard Diego Bernard (11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game) didn't play against the Lopers earlier this season. The 'Cats also feature All-American candidates Ryan Hawkins (21.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals pg) and Trevor Hudgins (19.7 points & 5.1 assists pg). Northwest leads the all-times series by a 10-1 margin.

Mo West (12-9) has won three of four after a Tuesday night win at Fort Hays State, 78-73. Before this stretch the Griffons had lost seven in a row; the program was hit hard by COVID after a trip to Kearney in mid-January.

Millard South grad Tyrell Carroll leads in scoring (18.4) and assists (4.5) and went for 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists in UNK's 75-67 win last month. The Lopers had a 51-point second half as four scored in double figures. Kearney also was 11 of 29 from behind the arc.

Reigning MIAA Freshman of the Year Will Eames, a 6-7 forward, is at 12.5 points and a team-best 8.9 rebounds per game but suffered an injury against the Tigers. His status is unknown for Saturday. UNK leads the series between the two, 20-16.

The games will likely go down to the wire as 63% of UNK's last 49 games have been decided by 10 points or less. Throw in contests between 11 and 12 points and that number jumps to 80%.

Of late Utah junior Darrian Nebeker has been leading the way, reaching double digits in five straight games. Fellow Utah native Jake Walker achieved that earlier this year (Dec. 5-Dec. 20) with Alliance senior Austin Luger having six such straight efforts (Dec. 12-Jan. 9).

Walker (14.6) and Luger (14.3) are one-two in scoring with Nebeker (9.0) close to double digits. He leads the team in field goal percentage (51.7), overall rebounds (108), is tied for first in assists (48) and is second in steals (18). Luger went for a combined 25 points and 14 rebounds against Northwest and Mo West earlier this season. He is up to 81.7% at the line with Walker at a team-best 87.3%. UNK, as a team, ranks first in the MIAA (75.7). Finally, the Lopers have shared the ball well of late to the tune of at least 20 assists in four of the last six games.

Pairing for the 8-team MIAA Tournament, which begins next Thursday (March 4), will be announced Saturday night.