Bradford Propels Huskers to Victory over Texas

Lincoln - Steffon Bradford scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds, as the Nebraska men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with an 80-67 victory over Nos. 23/22 (AP/Coaches) Texas in front of a crowd of 8,640 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Saturday.

With the victory, the Huskers improved to 8-7 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12, ending a seven-game losing streak against ranked opponents over the last two seasons. The win was Nebraska's first over a ranked foe since a 64-59 victory over Kansas during the 1998-99 season.

The Huskers held Texas to a season-low 33 percent (22-of-67) shooting, including 7-of-23 from three-point range, as NU snapped the Longhorns' (12-3, 2-1) seven-game winning streak.

After Texas closed to within 36-32 with 13:36 remaining, NU took control of the contest with a 12-4 spurt over the next four minutes, including three-pointers by Cookie Belcher and John Robinson. On the day, the Huskers were 7-of-15 from 3-point range, including a career-high four by Belcher, who entered the contest in an 0-11 slump from long range over the last four games.

The Huskers salted the game away from the foul line, hitting 29-of-45 foul shots in the second half, as UT committed 32 fouls and had three players foul out.

Belcher and Ffriend joined Bradford in double figures, scoring 18 points apiece. Belcher added eight rebounds and six assists, tying his career high with four three-pointers. Ffriend pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked four shots for his third double-double of the season.

Darren Kelly was the only Longhorn to place in double figures, scoring a season-high 31 points, including 25 points in the second half.

In the first half, the Huskers put together one of their finest first-half performances of the season, holding Texas to just 29 percent shooting in taking a 28-20 halftime lead.

Belcher, who had been mired in an 0-11 slump over the past four games from three-point, scored eight points in the half, including a pair of three-pointers, while Bradford scored six points and grabbed five rebounds.

Ffriend keyed a 12-2 Husker run, scoring all six of first-half points in the spurt, while the Huskers held Texas without a field goal for almost eight minutes. NU led by as many as 11 points, at 26-15 on a Rodney Fields' 3-pointer, and took an eight-point lead into the locker room.

The 20 first-half points was fewest allowed by the Huskers this season, while also equaling a season-low for the Longhorns.

The Huskers return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 17, when the Huskers travel to Lawrence, Kan., to face the Jayhawks. Tipoff for the game, which will be shown on ESPN+ will be at 8:05 p.m.

Nebraska Postgame Notes vs. Texas
*-The win is Nebraska's first victory over a ranked opponent in eight games dating back to the 1998-99 season, when NU won its final four contests against ranked opponents. NU's last win over a ranked opponent was a 64-59 victory at No. 24 Kansas on Feb. 10, 1999. The Huskers' last home win against a ranked opponent was against No. 24 Missouri on Feb. 6, 1999 (69-61). Nebraska has now defeated a ranked opponent in nine of the last 11 seasons. It is the highest ranked opponent NU has defeated since knocking off No. 20 Kansas, 84-69, on Jan. 29, 1999. The victory over a ranked opponent was the first for Head Coach Barry Collier at Nebraska.

*- The victory ends a four-game losing streak for Nebraska, dating back to a 72-70 victory over SMU in the San Juan Shootout finals on Dec. 22, 1999, and a three-game losing streak to Texas, dating back to the 1997-98 season. The NU victory also snapped the Longhorns' seven-game winning streak.

*- Cookie Belcher entered today's game missing his last 11 from 3-point range over the past four games, before going four of eight from the arc en route to scoring 18 points. His four 3-pointers ties a career high set against Villanova on Nov. 19, 1998. He also tied a season high with eight rebounds (vs. Iona and at Minnesota) and had six assists, one off his season high (7 vs. UMKC). With his 18 points today, he also moved into 10th place on NU's career scoring charts, passing Tom Baack (1,299 points from 1966-1968) and Carl McPipe (1,300, 1976-79). Belcher now had 1,301 career points.

*- Senior Kimani Ffriend had four blocked shots, marking the seventh time this season that he has blocked four or more shots in a game. He finished with 18 points, including 5-of-6 from the floor, and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and 11th of his career.

*- Texas' 32.8 shooting (22-of-67) is its lowest total of the season, as UT's previous low was 33.3 percent against Kansas State its the last game.

*- Texas' 20 points in the first half is the lowest first-half total by a Husker opponent this season, bettering the 22 that Creighton scored on Jan. 2. It is their lowest first-half total of the season, topping the previous low of 22 vs. KSU on Jan. 10.

*- With his one 3-pointer this afternoon, Cary Cochran has now hit at least one 3-pointer in 21of the past 22 games, and 14 of 15 games this season. He is now four 3-pointers away from tying Tyronn Lue (145) for fourth on NU career charts.

*- Darren Kelly's 31 points is the most by a Husker opponent this season, topping the 30 points that Kareem Rush scored on Jan. 6. Kelly was the only Longhorn in double figures, as forwards Maurice Evans and Chris Owens were held to a combined 12 points, nearly 20 points under their combined average.

*- The Huskers made more free throws (29) than field goals (22), as the Huskers set season highs in both free throws made (29) and attempted (47).

*-UT four assists were the lowest by a Husker opponent this season.

Nebraska Head Coach Barry Collier
On the Game:
"I think we played well today against a good ball club. I think this was our best defensive effort against a team. It will take this type of effort every night to keep doing this. But once you do it, it doesn't take a lot to believe you can do it again."

On NU's Three Seniors:
"I thought they kept their composure. They gave us leadership out there. I think we still have a long way to go to really have the attitude."

On Texas guard Darren Kelly
"We couldn't stop Kelly. I think that he was really hot and they differed to him a lot. Between that and rebounding, that's close to all they needed."

On the Huskers as a Team:
"The key for us is developing consistency and continuing to improve. I feel like we have improved. The challenge is staying with it. We're not that far from being a confident team. They've made good progress. We're just going to try to get the most out of this team."

Nebraska senior center Kimani Ffriend:
On the Huskers' attitude:
"Coming into this game, we had five good practices. We had lost some close ones. We knew this was a winnable game. We knew that if we played well that we would win. It gives us a big confidence boost. We believe we can go down to Kansas and win."

Nebraska senior guard Cookie Belcher:
On the Huskers as a team:
"I think this is the first time we played well for 40 minutes. We held them to 20 points in the first half. That says a lot about our defense. I think we can build from here."

Texas Head Coach Rick Barnes
On the Game:
"We didn't have any punch inside to start the game. I also didn't like our body language coming out. We didn't play with any aggressiveness out there early."

On Nebraska's Big Three:
"Their big three, Bradford, Ffriend and Belcher, all came out and got it done. All of those guys had their way offensively."

On UT's Offensive Production:
"Again it goes back to our offense. We had continuous pressure on our defense because we couldn't get it done offensively."