Lincoln - Jake Muhleisen scored 14 of his career-high 19 points in the first half, as Nebraska continued its best start in five years with a 72-53 victory over Western Illinois in front of 6,580 at the Devaney Center Wednesday evening.

A freshman from Lincoln, Muhleisen scored the Huskers' first eight points before missing nearly five minutes after landing awkwardly after a lay-up just 2:23 into the contest. The 6-4 point guard was 3-of-5 from the floor and hit all seven shots from the line in 12 first-half minutes and finished the game hitting 9-of-10 from the line. His 19 points topped his season high of 16 against Texas-San Antonio last week.

The Huskers, who improved to 5-0 on the season, received an unlikely boost, as senior Ross Buckendahl keyed a 12-2 run to end the half with a 39-22 advantage. A senior from Battle Creek who had scored just 12 points in NU's first four games, Buckhendahl scored all seven of his points in the run, easily eclipsing his previous career high of four points. He also set career highs in rebounds (eight) and assists (three) in 27 minutes of action, as the Huskers joined Oklahoma State and Missouri as the only unbeaten teams in the Big 12.

The Huskers, who never trailed, were in control throughout the contest, shooting 48 percent from the floor in the first half and hitting all nine free throws to take a 12-point lead into the locker room. The Leathernecks scored the first five points after intermission to close to within 39-27 after Quentin Mitchell's three-pointer, but that would be as close as WIU got. The Huskers scored the next 12 points, keyed by consecutive three-pointers by Muhleisen and Brian Conkin, to take a 51-27 lead.

The Huskers, who won by 10 or more points for the fourth time in five games, led by as many as 25 points and enjoyed a 20-point margin the final 15 minutes to cruise to the win.

Cary Cochran and Conklin joined Muhleisen in double figures, finishing with 14 and 13 points, respectively, as the NU shot 45 percent from the floor, and a season-best 85 percent from the line.

Defensively, NU held WIU to just 33 percent shooting from the floor, marking the fourth time in five games that NU has held the opponent to under 40 percent shooting. WIU was just 5-for-27 from behind the arch, as the Huskers' first five foes have hit just 35-of-130 three-point attempts.

Western Illinois, bidding for its first 5-1 start in 12 seasons, was led by J.D. Summers and Shawn Mason, who each finished with 14 points.

Nebraska concludes its six-game homestand on Saturday, when the Huskers play host to Oral Roberts at 2:05 p.m. at the Devaney Center. Prior to Saturday's game, the Marines will be collecting new and unwrapped toys at all four entrances for the Toys for Tots program.

Nebraska postgame notes:
** Nebraska is 5-0 for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign, when the Huskers opened the season with a 5-0 record in five straight home games.

** The 19-point victory tied the Huskers