Huskers Win Opener, 79-59, over UNC-Greensboro

Lincoln (AP) -- Cookie Belcher scored 18 points and had nine assists Saturday as Nebraska beat North Carolina-Greensboro 79-59 in the season opener for both teams.

Nebraska trailed only once, at 4-2. The Cornhuskers then went on an 8-0 run to open up a 12-4 lead and Greensboro never got closer than five points the remainder of the game.

Nebraska dominated the first half, hitting 69 percent of its field goals while holding Greensboro to just 26 percent from the floor and blocking nine Spartan shots. The Huskers led 44-23 at halftime.

Greensboro cut the deficit to 15 points in the first five minutes of the second half. But Belcher scored all eight of his second-half points in a 14-2 run that extended the lead to 68-41 with 8:14 remaining.

Nebraska led by as many as 30 points before coach Danny Nee pulled his starters and Greensboro reduced the final margin.

Venson Hamilton had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Nebraska and Andy Markowski and Larry Florence added 10 points each.

Demetrius Cherry led North Carolina-Greensboro with 18 points while James Maye scored 12.

Nebraska-UNC Greensboro Postgame Notes

*-Nebraska won its home opener for the 18th straight season, including a 13-0 mark under Danny Nee.

*-The Huskers are 10-3 in season openers overall under Nee.

*-After recording 17 double-doubles last season, center Venson Hamilton opened the year with his first double-double of the season, with 13 points and 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes.

*-Hamilton's 11 rebounds moved him past Andre Smith into fourth place on the Husker career rebounding list with 756 career caroms. His is within 26 boards of Leroy Chalk's school record of 782 rebounds.

*-Cookie Belcher's nine assists tied his career high, also last season against UNC Wilmington.

*-Nebraska blocked 13 shots against UNC Greensboro, just two off the school record.

*-Brant Harriman's four blocked shots set a new career high.

*-Starting point guard Joe Holmes has now played two exhibition games and a regular season contest without committing a turnover.

*-Nebraska held UNC Greensboro to 35 percent from the floor. Last year, Nebraska held the Spartans to 26 percent and held all opponents to 40 percent for the season.

*-Nebraska shot 62 percent in the opener after hitting better than 60 percent just once last season.