Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team, fighting for a spot in the MIAA Tournament, hosts Northeastern State and Rogers State this weekend.

The Lopers (8-13, 5-11) are right behind the RiverHawks (11-11, 6-10) and Hillcats (14-8, 8-8) in the league standings. Each team is playing well of late, UNK having won two of its last three, RSU on a two-game win streak and NSU coming off an upset win over Washburn.

Back in early January, UNK fell in Tahlequah in double OT, 97-90, after dropping a 74-60 decision in Claremore. The Lopers are 15-5 all-time vs. NSU and have a 1-4 mark against RSU.

UNK comes in ranked 14th nationally in three-point percentage (40.2) and 27th in overall field goal percentage (49.1). The school-record for team three-point percentage in a season is 40.9 (263/643), set during the 1997-98 season. A total of six Loper squads have cracked the 40.0 percent mark since the arc was introduced to college basketball in the late 1980's. 

The Blue & Gold currently has sunk 206 of 513 triple tries with all 10 players who've suited up having made at least one long range shot. Next, four Lopers shoot at least 41.0 percent with the make leaders being point guard David Simental (50), forward Austin Luger (40) and guard Sean Evans (39). Finally, over the last six games UNK has sunk 68 treys (11.3 per game).

Thanks to a big week, Simental now ranks sixth in the MIAA in scoring (17.5), eighth in threes made pg (2.3), third in minutes pg (35.7) and fourth in free throw percentage (88.8). One of three Lopers to have started all 22 games, he is a point shy of 1,600 in his collegiate career (UNK, CSU-Pueblo, Central Wyoming & Montana State-Billings).

Also ranking high in the MIAA stat leaders is senior Darrian Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah) who is second in assists (106) and third in apg (4.8) despite being a forward. His dime tally is the most by a Loper since point guard Yashua Trent in 2016-17 (136/4.7 per game).

NSU is 3-6 on the road and paced by sophomore guard Christian Cook (15.5 points, 2.4 assists & 2.0 rebounds) and former Arkansas Razorback Emeka Obukwelu (15.9 points & 8.6 rebounds).  They combined for 29 points and were two of the six 'Hawks in double digits in that double OT win on Jan. 3.

Rogers has the third best scoring defense (68.0 ppg) in the MIAA. A roster with 10 transfers is 10-1 at home and 3-8 away from Claremore and led by senior guard Devin Pullum (17.0 points & 2.6 assists). Finally, four others average at least nine points a night.

UNK heads to Central Missouri (10-10, 7-9) and Lincoln (2-17, 1-13) next week.