In a battle of the top two teams in the RMAC's East Division, UNK improved to 21-5 (14-2 RMAC) while the Roadrunners fell to 15-9 (11-5). The Lopers have now won five of the last six meetings with Metro to lead the all-time series, 19-12.

Meads came into the game averaging just over 20 points per game in six career contests against Metro. While she didn't reach that average, she did score a team-high 16 points on 7 of 19 shooting. And thanks to 10 offensive rebounds, Meads had her fourth career double-double (14 total rebounds).

UNK didn't trail for the last 25 minutes but never shook the Roadrunners. A put back bucket by senior Melissa Hinkley gave the Lopers it's biggest lead of the second half, 58-52, with 2:57 to play.

However, Metro got right back into things with a rare four-point possession. After Anne-Marie Torp made a shot in the lane, Meads was called for a foul and that led to two made free throws by Ashley Mickens.

UNK would eventually lead by three, 61-58, after senior Amy Mathis made one of two free throws with 27 seconds remaining. One of Metro's top three point shooters, Stephanie Sauter, came back into the game and she tried to tie the contest but missed a triple attempt with 12 seconds left.

Mathis finished the scoring with two free throws. She ended the night 8 of 10 at the line, only the third time in the last two years she missed more then one freebie in a game. The Millard North graduate also made four field goals to have a 14-point night.

Hinkely was the third Loper in double digits, scoring 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting. She and Mathis also combined for 13 rebounds.

For Metro, Mickens had a double double (13 points, 12 rebounds) with post player Cassondra Bratton scoring a team-high 15.

At Denver

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 63, METRO STATE 58

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY (21-5, 14-2)

Mathis 4-14 8-10 16, Meads 7-19 2-5 16, Hinkley 4-8 2-2 10, Schuppe 3-6 0-0 6, Petri 2-6 0-0 5, Schneider 1-4 3-3 5, Becker 1-2 3-4 5, Mildenberger 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 22-63 18-24 63.

METRO STATE (15-9, 11-5)

Bratton 6-8 2-5 15, Mickens 5-12 3-6 13, Sauter 3-8 0-0 9, Benson 2-7 0-0 5, Torp 2-4 1-2 5, Bean 2-4 0-0 4, Powers 2-8 0-0 4, Sinclair 1-2 0-1 2, Dennee 0-1 1-2 1, Sullivan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-54 7-16 58.

Half UNK 27, Metro State 25. 3-point goalsNebraska-Kearney 1-8 (Petri 1-2, Meads 0-2, Schneider 0-1, Mathis 0-3). Metro State 5-19 (Sauter 3-8, Benson 1-4, Bratton 1-2, Powers 0-3, Dennee 0-1, Mickens 0-1). Fouled outNone. ReboundsNebraska-Kearney 49 (Meads 15), Metro State 32 (Mickens 12). AssistsNebraska-Kearney 11 (Meads 4, Schuppe 4), Metro State 11 Mickens 4). Total foulsNebraska-Kearney 19, Metro State 20. A-221

* MEN

Metro State 85, UNK 74

Metro State had big advantages in points in the paint and points off of turnovers to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 85-74, Friday night at the Auraria Events Center in Denver.

UNK (12-12, 10-7 RMAC) has lost two in a row and six straight games on the Roadrunners' home court, dating back to the 2002-03 season. Metro (16-11, 9-7 RMAC) has won three in a row and improves its home mark to 7-3.

The Lopers won the rebounding game by nine, 40-31, made 10 three pointers and shot well from both the field (46.6 pct.) and line (76.9 pct.). However, 21 UNK turnovers led to 27 Roadrunner points.

The 'Runners, who had just seven turnovers on the night, started the second half on a 10-3 run to break a 38-38 halftime tie. UNK never regained the lead, or tied the game, but trailed by just five points with four minutes to play.

Three straight points from post Lawrence Billings got the Metro lead up to eight but a three from Jeff Martin cut the deficit to five once again, 73-68, with 1:39 to play.

However, a three point play from Jesse Wagstaff got the 'Runners lead back to eight and UNK never got closer then five points the rest of the way.

Wagstaff sunk 10 of 13 shots to finish with 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Billings had 13 points and five boards with guard Marquise Carrington having a team-best 24 points on 7 of 16 shooting.

Ravenna sophomore Drake Beranek led UNK with 19 points on a 7 of 12 shooting effort. He also pulled down 12 rebounds, making this his 10th double double of the year.

Freshman Jeremy Cruise had his second highest point total (18) of the season thanks to four made threes while Martin finished with 14 points. Off the bench, Arizona freshman Justin McCullough had nine points and eight rebounds.

At Denver

METRO STATE 85, NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 74

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY (12-12, 10-6)

Beranek 7-12 2-3 19, Cruise 6-13 2-2 18, Martin 5-13 2-2 14; Lever 3-8 3-4 10, McCullough 4-5 1-2 9, Parker 2-3 0-0 4, Cooney 0-1 0-0 0; Johnson 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 27-58 10-13 74.

METRO STATE (16-11, 9-7)

Carrington 7-16 8-9 24, Jesse Wagstaff 10-13 2-3 22, Lawrence

Billings 5-8 3-5 13, Terrell Burgess 2-10 6-8 10, Guiseppe Ciancio 3-7 0-0

8, Daniel Bass 2-6 1-2 6, Erik Martin 0-0 2-2 2, Hayden Smith 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-62 22-29 85.

Half UNK 38, Metro State 38. 3-point goalsNebraska-Kearney 10-27 (Cruise 4-10, Beranek 3-3, Martin 2-7; Lever 1-3, Cooney 0-1, Johnson 0-3). Metro State 5-20 (Carrington 2-6, Ciancio 2-5, Bass 1-5, Burgess 0-4). Fouled outMartin . ReboundsNebraska-Kearney 40 (Beranek 12), Metro State 31 (Wagstaff 7). AssistsNebraska-Kearney 17 ( Lever 8), Metro State 8 (Ciancio 2; Wagstaff 2, Burgess 2). Total foulsNebraska-Kearney 21, Metro State 16. A-246.