Huskers defeat ISU for second straight win
Nebraska men’s basketball coach Doc Sadler offered a witty apology for making reporters wait longer than usual for his postgame press conference.
“We were in there icing our shooting arms down,” Sadler said, joking about his team’s “hot” 42.6 percent shooting.
Hey, it was the hottest the Huskers have been in six Big 12 Conference games. And it was hot enough to help Nebraska defeat Iowa State 64-56 on Saturday before 9,812 fans at the Devaney Sports Center.
The Huskers (13-6, 2-4) have won two straight games. Yeah, they’ve caught breaks, what with Missouri’s five suspended players Wednesday, and Iowa State playing without its top scorer, injured sophomore guard Wesley Johnson.
But Nebraska has taken full advantage, and given itself a much-needed boost of confidence in the process.
Player after player talked of feeling more confident, being more aggressive and relieving pressure off center Aleks Maric, always the opponent’s center of attention.
Maric had 14 points and 13 rebounds, his second straight double-double, and the 27th of his career. But Maric had only 10 shot attempts. What’s more, three other Huskers scored in double figures, giving Nebraska four double-digit scorers for the second straight game.
Before Wednesday’s 66-62 victory at Missouri, the Huskers hadn’t had four players in double figures in a game since Dec. 15 against Oregon.
“That’s the way this team is,” Sadler said. “I saw some confidence. We didn’t make all the shots, but Ade (Dagunduro) was more aggressive. That’s where we’ve got to get. We’ve got to get aggressive on the perimeter.”
Dagunduro, who has struggled through much of Big 12 play, scored 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
“These past few games, I’ve been trying to let my game come to me, and it’s never come,” Dagunduro said. “I just thought if it doesn’t come to me, I’m going to force the issue.”
Sophomore guard Sek Henry did the same, scoring 11 points, including eight in the final 4½ minutes, when the Huskers made six straight field goals.
“I just want to win,” Henry said. “I’m just playing aggressive. Everybody’s playing aggressive right now.
“They know Al is our best player, and if they stop him, they want us (guards) to try to win the game.”
Ryan Anderson also had 11 points. His three-pointer with 3:27 remaining gave Nebraska a 53-46 lead. Freshman point guard Cookie Miller, whom Sadler credited for giving the Huskers a second-half energy boost, then stole the ball from Diante Garrett, leading to a Henry jumper.
After two ISU free throws, Henry again stretched the lead to nine points, 57-48, on a driving shot with 2:03 remaining.
Iowa State (13-9, 3-4) got no closer than six points after that, and Nebraska finished 4-of-6 at the free-throw line.
The Cyclones, who had won three straight games in Lincoln, never led in the second half.
Nebraska broke a 29-29 halftime tie with a 6-0 run to start the second half. The Cyclones rallied and forced ties at 38 and 40, but had turnovers on four of their next six possessions, when the Huskers used another 6-0 run to take the lead for good.
Iowa State, which went 7:19 in the second half without a field goal, had 20 turnovers, 11 coming on Nebraska steals.
“Some of our young guys are making some turnovers,” Iowa State coach Greg McDermott said, “but some of our veterans melted at critical times tonight.”
The Huskers outrebounded ISU 35-30 and held the Cyclones to five offensive rebounds, including only one in the second half.
Still, it’s that “hot” shooting that left Sadler smiling.
“Dude, we shot 42 percent and we won,” Sadler said. “It’s not like we’re Billy Bad in the 1800s shooting down people.
“But you’ve got to have that attitude that when we get out there, man, we’re going to be aggressive.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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