KEARNEY, Neb. - Nebraska-Kearney's Connor Beranek scored a game-high 38 points and pulled down 17 rebounds to lead the Lopers to an 84-58 win against Lincoln in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association win on Saturday night.
The Blue Tigers (2-9, 0-3) were 29-of-81 (35.8 percent) from the field and were outrebounded 53-31 in the loss.
James Edmond scored 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds and four blocks to lead Lincoln. Mike Smith chipped in 13 points and Jeremy Jackson finished with nine for the Blue Tigers, who were 7-of-18 from the free throw line and 7-of-22 from behind the arc.
Lincoln jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but that was quickly erased as the Lopers (3-5, 1-2) responded with a 14-3 run to take a six-point lead with 10:54 left in the first half. The Blue Tigers cut their deficit to three with 3:44 left, but Nebraska-Kearney ended the half on a 10-3 run to take a 36-26 lead.
Nebraska-Kearney extended its lead to 23 points with 14:05 remaining in the game and cruised from there.
Tyler Shields added 15 points for the Lopers, who were 39-of-87 (48.5 percent) from the field and 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from behind the arc.
The Blue Tigers will take on Washburn at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in Topeka, Kan., before returning home to host Emporia State at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 4.