In a game where neither team led by more than six points, host Nebraska-Kearney edged Wayne State in non-conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the UNK Health and Sports Center in Kearney 62-59.  The host Lopers improve to 4-3 while the Wildcats drop to 3-3.
            The game featured 13 lead changes and seven ties between the two clubs.  WSC held the lead for nearly two-thirds of the first half but found themselves trailing by two (35-33) at intermission.
            With UNK holding a 9-8 lead at the 16:31 mark, WSC used a Ben Kerkhoff jumper, Matt Noll basket and a 3-pointer by Kerkhoff to grab a 15-9 advantage.
            WSC took another six-point lead at 22-16, but moments later were trailing 28-27.  The 'Cats ended the first half on a Andrew Stokes layup and was down two points at the break as WSC hit just 2 of 13 from the 3-point line in the opening half.
            The Wildcats found themselves with a lead for the first part of the second half and took another six-point lead at 50-44 with 11:27 to play following an Andrew Stokes basket. 
            However, WSC went scoreless for the next 7:34 allowing UNK to get the lead at 54-50 following a 10-0 scoring run.  A Darshan Thomas jumper stopped the scoreless streak and got WSC within two at 54-52 with 3:53 left.
            After UNK took a 56-52 lead, WSC used a jumper from Noll and a 3-pointer by Thomas to regain the lead at 57-56 with 1:28 remaining.
            Following a Loper basket, senior guard Kai Smith countered with two free throws putting WSC back up 59-58 with 46 seconds to play.
            UNK got the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds to go and then caused a WSC turnover on the next possession forcing the 'Cats to foul and the Lopers sank two free throws with five seconds left for the final 62-59 margin.  A Ben Kerkhoff 3-pointer missed with one second to play for the Wildcats.
            Stokes and Smith led Wayne State in scoring with 13 points apiece.
            Wayne State shot just 35.9 percent from the field making 23 of 64 shots.  The 'Cats were just 5 of 26 (19%) from 3-point range and 8 of 11 at the foul stripe.
            For UNK, Ja'Bryant Hill scored 15 points with Anthony Swift adding 12.  The Lopers made 22 of 58 shots for 37.9 percent, including 6 for 23 behind the arc while going 12 for 14 at the charity stripe.
            Nebraska-Kearney won the rebounding battle over Wayne State 41-37.  Wade Voss grabbed eight rebounds for WSC followed by Aurrion Harris and Smith with six each.  Smith led the 'Cats with five steals and four assists in the game.
            Wayne State plays their final non-conference game of the season Monday evening hosting Hesston College from Kansas in Rice Auditorium at 7 p.m.