Kearney, Neb. - The last game of the fall semester for the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team has the Lopers facing a squad that has yet to play a road game this season.  

UNK (3-5, 1-1) takes on the Lindenwood Lions (6-6, 1-1) Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard on KGFW AM 1340 and be seen (for purchase) on America One. Also available are live stats.

Due to a scheduling quirk, this marks the second straight year LWU has had to make the 1,100 mile-round trip to Kearney. On the flip side, UNK has had to go to Missouri Southern State and Southwest Baptist in back-to-back years.

Former Wisconsin and St. Louis head coach Brad Soderberg has had to replace six seniors off last year's 19-7 Lions team that tied for third (12-6) in the MIAA but couldn't compete in the postseason due to NCAA tran­sition requirements.

Several returners have stepped up as LWU has won six of its last nine games. They began 2013-14 with losses to three top teams in Alaska-Anchorage, No. 14 Seattle Pacific and No. 16 Minnesota State.
 
On Monday, they lost 114-112 in two OT's to Missouri S & T. The two teams combined for 64 fouls and 91 free throws.
 
A balanced offensive attack features 6-1 senior guard Tyler Ressel (17.3), 5-11 junior guard Darris Smith (14.7) and 6-2 sophomore guard Brandon Marquardt (10.8).
 
Smith is among the MIAA steal leaders (2.2) with Marquardt ranking among the league leaders in threes made per game (2.5).  As a team, Lindenwood averages 7.9 triples per game, fifth best in the MIAA.
 
Inside is 6-6, 215 lbs. junior Garrett Regg (8.8 points & 5.9 rebounds pg) and 6-9, 225 lbs. sophomore Sam Mader (7.7 points & 4.3 rebounds pg).
 
Last year in Kearney, the Lions beat the Lopers 84-75 as they built a 13-point halftime lead. Among current players, Marquardt had eight points in 16 minutes with Smith supplying nine points and five assists as a starter.
 
UNK is 3-0 at home vs. D2 competition so far this winter. That includes an 84-58 thrashing of MIAA foe Lincoln last Friday night.
 
Sophomore Connor Beranek (Ravenna) has found the bottom of the bucket all season to the tune of 21.9 points per game. One of only two underclassmen among the top 25 Division II scoring leaders, the 6-6 forward is shooting 82% at the line and 49% from the field while pulling down a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game.
 
He also is second on the Lopers in threes made (10) and first in blocks (seven.).
 
Three others are in double digits as well, including junior newcomer Davion Pearson (Las Vegas, Nev.). The point guard, making 79% of his free throws, is among the MIAA leaders in assists per game (4.6) and assist to turnover ratio (2.3).
 
The Central Wyoming College product also averages a healthy 27.3 minutes per game.
 
The NCAA Division II moratorium (no games & no practices) runs from December 23-29 with UNK's next contest being January 4th at Central Missouri.