Box Score Nebraska-Kearney 86 Wayne State 69

            Nebraska-Kearney sank 14 of 26 from the 3-point line to offset a game-high 25 points by Wayne State sophomore guard Matt Thomas as the Lopers topped the Wildcats 86-69 in non-conference men's basketball played Tuesday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  UNK is now 11-8 on the season while WSC drops to 4-16.
            The game was close early as the two teams traded five lead changes and six ties.  But UNK used a late run to end the first half to take control of the game for a 44-33 halftime lead.
            WSC jumped out to an early 11-4 lead as the Wildcats made their first five shots of the contest. 
            UNK then scored the next eight points to take their first lead of the night at 12-11 on a pair of Connor Beranek free throws at the 12:54 mark of the first half.
            Wayne State's last lead came at 17-15 on an Adam Moon jumper with 11:46 to play in the half.
            A David Andersen layup produced the game's sixth tie at 21-21 with 7:57 to play. 
            After UNK built a seven point lead at 32-25, WSC got as close as four at 32-28 following a Matt Thomas 3-point play with 3:59 remaining before halftime. 
            The Lopers then went on a 12-2 run right before halftime for a 44-30 lead before Thomas hit a trey for the final basket of the first half to give UNK a 44-33 lead at intermission.
            Wayne State opened the second half with an Adam Moon jumper and a Thomas 3-pointer to get within six at 44-38.
            WSC was still within six at 48-42 following a pair of Vance Janssen free throws with 15:15 remaining.  UNK then put the game out of reach with a 20-6 run over the next 4:25 to take a 68-48 lead and the Lopers went on to record an 86-69 victory in the 161^st meeting between the two schools.
            Thomas led Wayne State with a game-high 25 points on 9 of 17 shooting.  It was his seventh game this season with 25 or more points.  Redshirt freshman Adam Moon added 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
            Wayne State shot 25 of 56 from the field for 44.6 percent.  The 'Cats were 4 of 14 from the 3-point line and 15 of 23 at the charity stripe.
            UNK was led by senior forward Connor Beranek with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Josh Sweet also recorded 18 points while Carter Burns and Ty Danielson also reached double figures with 13 and 11 respectively.
            Nebraska-Kearney made 28 of 60 shots from the field for 46.7 percent.  UNK was a sizzling 14 for 26 from behind the arc for 53.8 percent and made 16 of 18 from the free throw line.
            Wayne State held a 37-35 edge over the Lopers in rebounding thanks to Moon's 12 caroms.  Beranek led UNK on the glass with 10.  UNK held an 18-6 advantage in points off turnovers and 37-16 in bench scoring over the Wildcats.
            The Wildcats return to Northern Sun Conference play this weekend hosting Minot State Saturday at 5 p.m. and the University of Mary Sunday in a 3 p.m. contest in Rice Auditorium.