The young Lopers (11-0, 9-4 RMAC) win their fourth in a row and are now in sole possession of second place in the East Division.

The nation's fifth leading scorer at 21.5 ppg, Beranek had tallied just 37 points over the last three games. That included a season-low five points in Thursday's win vs. Colorado Christian.

Facing Metro's full court pressure, which allows for some open shots, Beranek finished the game 14 of 21 from the field (4 of 7 three pointers) and 9 of 10 at the line to become only the third Loper to score 40 points in an NCAA Division II game.

Current co-head coach Tom Kropp holds the UNK school record for points in a game, scoring 51 in a 1974 contest vs. Central Missouri. In February 1998, Eric Strand (43, vs. Chadron) and Mike Hancock (41, vs. Fort Hays) reached the 40 point mark.

The Ravenna native also grabbed 15 rebounds, one off his career best, to record his ninth double double of the year.

Beranek and the freshman backcourt of Garrett Lever and Jeremy Cruise played all 40 minutes against the 'Runners.

Besides Beranek's heroics, Cruise (St. Edward) had 16 points on 5 of 13 shooting. His back-to-back threes early in the second half helped stop a Metro run and give UNK a nine point lead.

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 88, METRO STATE 82

METRO STATE (13-11, 6-7)

Smith 2-7 0-0 4, Burgess 5-9 3-3 14, Billings 5-10 4-6 14, Ciancio 3-9 0-1 7, Wagstaff 4-11 1-2 9, Martin 2-4 2-3 6, Carrington 10-19 5-7 28, Luedtke 0-0 0-0 0, Bass 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 31-74 13-21 82.

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY (11-10, 9-4)

Lever 1-4 4-7 7, Cruise 5-13 2-2 16, Martin 3-4 0-0 8, Beranek 14-21 9-10 41, Parker 4-6 3-3 11, Cooney 0-1 5-8 5, McCullough 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-49 23-30 88.

HalftimeNebraska-Kearney 38, Metro State 29. 3-Point goalsMetro State 7-23 (Burgess 3-3, Ciancio 1-6, Wagstaff 0-3, Martin 0-1, Carrington 3-7, Bass 0-3), Nebraska-Kearney 11-23 (Lever 1-3, Cruise 4-10, Martin 2-3, Beranek 4-7). Fouled outMetro State (Ciancio, Bass) Nebraska-Kearney (Martin). ReboundsMetro State 38 (Wagstaff 9), Nebraska-Kearney 36 (Beranek 15). AssistsNC-Greensboro 15 (Burgess 7), Nebraska-Kearney 17 (Lever 7). TurnoversMetro State 13, Nebraska-Kearney 23. Total foulsMetro State 26, Nebraska-Kearney 19. TechnicalsNone. A1,245.

* women

UNK 87, Metro State 82

KEARNEY - Senior Amy Mathis caught fire late and junior Jade Meads had another big effort against Metro State to help the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team beat the Roadrunners, 87-82, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK (18-5, 11-2 RMAC) is now in sole possession of first place in the East Division and stops Metro's (14-7, 10-3 RMAC) nine game winning streak.

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 87, METRO STATE 82

METRO STATE (14-7, 10-3)

Mickens 6-13 3-3 15, Powers 2-6 0-0 4, Sauter 4-11 3-3 14, Dennee 2-6 0-0 4, Torp 5-9 0-0 10, Sullivan 0-0 0-0 0, Benson 8-13 0-0 18, Williamson 1-2 0-0 2, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Bean 2-5 0-0 4, Bratton 4-5 3-4 11. Totals 34-70 9-10 82.

UNK (18-5, 11-2)

Schuppe 4-5 4-4 13, Mathis 6-15 8-9 24, Hinkley 2-4 1-3 5, Meads 8-16 5-5 21, Becker 2-6 4-6 8, Petri 4-7 1-2 10, Mildenberger 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 28-58 25-31 87.

HalftimeTied at 41. 3-point field goalsMetro State 5-20 (Mickens 0-1, Powers 0-4, Sauter 3-9, Benson 2-5, Williamson 0-1), UNK 6-11 (Schuppe 1-1, Mathis 4-7, Meads 0-1, Petri 1-1, Mildenberger 0-1). Fouled outnone. ReboundsMetro State 37 (Mickens 9), UNK 34 (Mathis 10). AssistsMetro State 23 (Mickens, Powers 5), UNK 19 (Meads 5). TurnoversMetro State 16, UNK 16. Total foulsMetro State 23, UNK 10. Technicalsnone. Attendance913.

However, Metro scored seven of the next nine points to trail by only two by the 2:13 mark. A three by Mathis (Millard North) about 20 seconds later gave UNK a five point cushion and Metro wouldn't get closer then three points the rest of the way.

The RMAC's leader scorer at 17.8 per game, Mathis started the day 1 of 9 from the field but made five of her last six shots to tally a game-high 24 points. She also pulled down 10 rebounds, making this her seventh double double of the year.

Meads carried the offensive load when Mathis was cold and finished with 21 points on 8 of 16 shooting. She also had five rebounds and a team-high five assists.

In six career games vs. Metro, Meads is averaging just over 20 points per game.

Also for UNK, junior guard Kassi Schuppe (Iliff, Colo.) scored nine of her career-high 13 points in the first half

For Metro, freshman reserve Alyssa Benson led the way with 18 points on 8 of 13 shooting. She came into the game averaging just four points on the year.

Four others were in double digits, including guard Ashley Mickens (15 points, nine rebounds, five assists).

Both teams shot 48 percent from the field but the Lopers had a big advantage at the line, 25-9. Metro did out rebound UNK, 37-34, and that led to 20 second chance points.

UNK hosts Chadron State Tuesday night.