Ffriend Paces Huskers to 84-55 Victory

Lincoln - Kimani Ffriend scored a game-high 19 points, as Nebraska ended a two-game losing streak with an 84-55 victory over Alaska-Fairbanks in the consolation game of the Husker Team Classic Saturday evening.

Unlike Nebraska's 82-71 loss to UMKC last evening, the Huskers (3-3) took control early on, using an 8-0 run to build an 18-7 advantage seven minutes into the contest. Ffriend scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half, as the Huskers led by as many as 19 points before taking a 42-30 halftime lead.

The 6-11 senior made his first eight shots from the floor and finished 8-of-9 from the field. He added six rebounds and four blocks for Nebraska, which shot better than 50 percent from the floor for the fifth time in six games.

The Nanooks (1-6) stayed within striking distance for the first 30 minutes with a strong shooting performance from long range. UAF made seven of their first 10 shots from 3-point range, but made just 3-of-13 down the stretch, as Nebraska built a 31-point lead in the final minutes.

Ffriend was one of four Huskers to finish in double figures, as Cookie Belcher added 18 points, on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor, while Cary Cochran and Steffon Bradford chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively. Bradford also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass, as Nebraska out-rebounded the Nanooks, 43-25. Cochran, who was 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the line, also tied a career high with eight assists.

Alaska-Fairbanks, a Division II school whose six losses have come against Division I teams, was led by Bodgan Popescu, who finished with 12 points, but was 4-of-19 from the field. Tommy Servine chipped in 10 points, as the Nanooks were held to 35.2 percent from the floor.

The Huskers will travel to Miami, Fla., for the Orange Bowl Shootout against the Hurricanes next Saturday, Dec. 16, at noon.

Nebraska vs. Alaska-Fairbanks Postgame Notes
*- Nebraska's 29-point victory was its largest since defeating Grambling 85-48 on Dec. 6, 1997.

*- Nebraska shot better than 50 percent for the fifth time in six games this season, connecting on 29-of-53 shots from the floor. Nebraska shot 50 percent or better from the floor four times all of last season.

*- Nebraska was 20-of-29 (69 percent) from the foul line, setting season highs in free throws made, attempted and percentage. In Nebraska's last two home games, the Huskers were just 12-of-38 (31.7 percent) from the line.

*- Steffon Bradford recorded his third double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 13 rebounds, including eight offensive boards. His 13 rebounds marked the fourth time this season he finished with 10 or more rebounds in a game. NU out-rebounded UAF, 43-25, and is 3-0 this season when out-rebounding its opponents.

*- Cary Cochran tied a career high with eight assists. The junior, who committed no turnovers this evening, also had eight assists against Baylor (Jan. 22) and at Texas A&M (March 4) last season. The eight assists in a game is a team best this year. Cochran, who extended his streak of at least one made 3-pointer to 13 games, has made two or more 3-pointers in every game this season.

*- Senior Kimani Ffriend finished in double figures for the fifth straight game with a team-high 19 points. Ffriend, who made his first eight shots from the floor, nearly tied a school record for most made field goals in a game without a miss. The record is 9-for-9, which is held by five players, most recently Mikki Moore at Nevada in 1997. Ffriend, who tied his season high with 19 points, is now 40-of-51 (78.4 percent) shooting from the floor this season.

*- Cookie Belcher scored in double figures for the sixth straight game with 18 points, and has scored 14 or more points in every game this season

*- Freshman walk-on Marcus Thorton made his collegiate debut this evening.

*- Justin Boeker finished with a season-high four points

*- Senior Rodney Fields finished with season highs in both points (nine) and rebounds (seven)

*- Nebraska surrendered at least 10 3-pointers for the second straight game

*- Nebraska had four players finish in double figures for the second straight contest

*- Nebraska is now 25-3 in the 14-year history of the Husker Team Classic

POSTGAME QUOTES
NEBRASKA HEAD COACH BARRY COLLIER
(On the game overall): "I thought our effort was better tonight in the first 12 minutes. We were much better and moved out to a 19-point lead. Then, I thought we lacked the toughness to counter them. Credit Fairbanks. I thought we got it back in the middle of the second half. It's a very welcome win, but it's in the consolation game, not the championship game."

(On the Huskers' intensity after Friday's loss): "I felt our players would play with good intensity and passion tonight because you almost always follow up a lack of effort with a good dose of it. I don't think it's a difficult assignment. You want to respond. There's pride on the team and we showed a little bit of that. We want to bring competitive spirit to every game we play."

(On the Huskers' offensive effort): "They were playing a match-up zone most of the night. I thought our guys were much more patient as a whole. Overall, we shot the ball well and we got it inside a lot."

ALASKA-FAIRBANKS HEAD COACH AL SOKAITIS
(On Nebraska): "Obviously we were undermanned, but Nebraska played hard. A lot harder than they did last night."
(On the game in general): "I thought the games was allowed to be extremely physical. I thought they allowed beyond the rough play. And when you're the smaller team you notice that."