Box Score KEARNEY, Neb. – No. 2 Metro State escaped with a 73-68 overtime victory at Nebraska-Kearney on Friday night. The Roadrunners improved to 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while UNK fell to 3-3 and 1-2.

It was the first overtime for Metro State since Dec. 29, 2007, when the Roadrunners defeated Minnesota Duluth 77-72.

Metro State's leading scorer and RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Reggie Evans (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.) had the worst night of his career, hitting just 3-of-19 from the floor and scoring just nine points. Metro State was just 1-4 last season when Evans scored under 10 points.

Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) picked up the slack offensively, scoring 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 9-of-11 at the line, while burying four 3-pointers. He also had 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Demetrius Miller (Flint, Mich./Flint Central H.S.) also helped with 15 points.

Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.) also had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, making 6-of-8 at the line.

The Roadrunners shot just 35.3 percent and the Lopers made 43.8 percent. However, Metro State forced 23 turnovers and committed just 11, leading to 22 points off turnovers. UNK also held a 48-38 rebounding advantage.

Metro struggled after a 12-4 start, shooting just 32.3 percent in the first half. Jefferson scored eight points during the 12-4 start, but picked up three first-half fouls and ended up sitting for much of the half.

With 4:47 left in regulation, Jefferson finished a 3-point play to cap a 5-0 run and put Metro State up 52-47.

But the Lopers answered to tie the game at 52-52 with 3:40 left.

A 3-pointer by Jefferson and two free throws by Morse put Metro State up 57-52 with 3:12 left.

The Roadrunners led 59-54 when Mike Dentlinger buried a 3-pointer with two minutes left.  A pair of free throws by Max Froehlich tied the game at 59-59 with 1:34 left. That score would remain at the end of regulation. A jump shot from the top of key by Evans bounced around the rim and out with seven seconds left to send the game to overtime.

Metro State shot just 28.1 percent in the second half compared to 61.1 percent by UNK.

After a Metro State turnover to open the extra session, Jefferson stole the ball at the top of the 3-point arc and went in for a layup for a 61-59 lead one minute into overtime. A pair of free throws tied the game back up for UNK.

Miller then buried a fadeaway from the left corner for a 63-61 lead with 3:30 to play. Jefferson made 1-of-2 at the line on the next possession for a 3-point lead.

After a tough layup between two Metro defenders by Dentlinger, Jefferson drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing with 2:25 to play for a 67-63 lead. Following a defensive stop, Miller found Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) in the lane for a left-handed hook to push the lead to 69-63 with 1:41 left. Metro State maintained a two-possession lead the rest of the game.

Dentlinger finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead UNK, shooting 10-of-17 from the floor.

Metro State will play at Chadron State at 6 p.m. on Saturday.