Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team enters the final weekend of the regular season as one of six battling for four spots in the 10-team MIAA Tournament.

The Lopers (11-15, 7-13) join Pittsburg State (7-13), Northeastern State (8-12), Missouri Western, Central Missouri and Rogers State (each at 9-11) as squads between 7-9 wins. Two of these teams won't make the cut for next weekend's event in Kansas City.

UNK hosts two-time defending national champion Northwest Missouri (23-5, 16-4) on Wednesday and Mo West Friday night. The games were moved up to help accommodate travel partner For Hays State.

Going 4-4 in its last eight games with, the Blue & Gold is 6-5 at home this winter. They continue to be among Division II's best in three-point percentage (12th), field goal percentage (18th), threes made per game (42nd) and assist-to-turnover ratio (48th). UNK is aiming for its first three-game win streak of the year; they won two in a row back in November and again in mid-December.

Back in January the Lopers won at Mo West at the buzzer, 81-79, and fell in Maryville, 80-65. UNK now leads the Griffs series by a 21-17 margin while the Bearcats are 12-1 all-time vs. Kearney.

Guard David Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) has been on a tear of late to the tune of 24.4 points over the last seven games. That includes 33-point efforts at Newman and Central Missouri. He's upped his season average to 18.3 thanks to 62 made treys and an 87% effort from the line. Simental also has played 946 minutes (36.4), among the most in the MIAA.

Next, veteran forward Darrian Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah) now has 1,000 points as a collegian. He began his career at Snow College in Utah (451 points) and has spent the past two at UNK (549 points). Nebeker is among the league leaders in assists (123), the most by a Loper since guard Yashua Trent in 2016-17 (136). Finally, "Super Senior" Austin Luger closes out a five-year home career this weekend. The Alliance native is up to 861 career points thanks to 113 3's and a 71% effort at the line.

Riding its first two-game losing streak in seven years, Northwest is still among the nation's best. They are close to the top in D2 in variety of categories including scoring defense (63.7) and three-point shooting (45.2). Returning National Player of the Year Trevor Hudgins leads the way; he went for 31/6/6 to help NW pull away from UNK back in January.

Mo West didn't have a host of players when Nebeker sunk an 18-footer to help UNK win back on January 13. They lost to Missouri Southern by three Monday night but bested Emporia State, 80-75, last Saturday. The Griffs are led by Lincoln Southwest grad JaQuaylon Mays (16.8) and 6-7, 215-pound forward Will Eames (13.4). Reserve Zion Swade, a freshman guard, went for 20 in the loss to the Lopers; he has 56 points on the season.

The field of the MIAA Tournament will be announced Saturday night. If the Lopers make the cut, they play Wednesday evening.