Ffriend Keys Huskers to Comeback Victory

Lincoln - Kimani Ffriend had eight of his season-high 20 points in a 19-1 second-half run, as Nebraska improved to 9-9 on the season with an 85-79 victory over Missouri in front of 10,471 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Wednesday evening.

A 6-11 center, Ffriend turned in his best performance of the year, finishing with 20 points, including 10-of-13 from the foul line, and 16 rebounds, as Nebraska improved to 2-3 in conference games and ended a two-game losing streak.

Despite shooting 44 percent, the Huskers took control of the game in the second half, out-rebounding the Tigers 28-11 after intermission, including 18-4 on the offensive boards. The Huskers used their effectiveness on the glass, converting the misses into 21 second-chance points, while holding the Tigers to just three.

Overall, NU enjoyed a 24-6 advantage on the offensive glass, as Ffriend pulled down 10 offensive boards in posting his fourth double-double in the past five games.

Trailing 55-44, Nebraska held Missouri without a field goal for nearly seven minutes, taking the lead for good on a Kevin Augustine jumper with 8:07 remaining. Augustine scored seven of his 10 points in the second half and dished out a season-high seven assists.

Ffriend was one of four Huskers to finish in double figures in the victory. Cookie Belcher scored 15 points and added a season-high eight assists, while Steffon Bradford chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds.

Clarence Gilbert led Missouri (12-6, 3-2) with a game-high 25 points, while Kareem Rush, who scored 30 in MU's 68-66 win on Jan. 6, finished with 21 points, but was just 2-for-6 from three-point range.

The Huskers travel to Oklahoma this Saturday, Jan. 27, for a 12:45 p.m. contest with the Sooners. The game will be televised on Channel 10/11 in Lincoln and Channel 3 in Omaha.

Nebraska Postgame Notes vs. Missouri (Jan. 24, 2001)
*- Kimani Ffreind recorded his fifth double-double of the season, setting season highs in both points (20) and rebounds (16). He was his fourth double-double in the past five games and 12th time in his two-year NU career. Ffriend also set a season best with 10 made free throws (in 13 attempts) against the Tigers, marking only the third time in his career that he has hit 10 or more free throws in a game (11 at KU - 1/15/2000; 12 vs. Minnesota 12/31/1999).

*- With his five steals this evening, senior guard Cookie Belcher moved into 12th place on the all-time NCAA steals chart, passing Timm Winn of St. Bonaventure (319), Gary Payton of Oregon State (321), and Chris Garner of Memphis (321). The Mexico, Mo., native now has 323 career steals and needs six more to crack the top 10. He also tied a season high with eight assists (also vs. Iona, at Minnesota and vs.Texas) and broke an 0-for-9 slump from three-point range, going 1-for-5 from beyond the arc. He finished with 15 points before fouling out.

*- Nebraska enjoyed a 44-24 rebounding advantage, as the +20 rebounding advantage was NU's best of the season (+18 vs. Alaska-Fairbanks on 12/9/2000). With a season-best 24 offensive rebounds, including 10 by Kimani Ffriend, NU equaled Missouri's entire total. NU has now out-rebounded its opponent in four of the past five games, while the Tigers have been out-rebounded in each of their last six games. NU's 44 rebounds is one off its season high, while conversely, MU's 24 rebounds is its season low.

*-With his one three-pointer against Missouri, Cary Cochran has hit at least one thee-pointer in 11 straight games and in 24 of the past 25 games dating back to last season. He played just six minutes and scored five points because of an eye injury. In the first meeting, Cochran, who was averaging 16.5 ppg. in the last two games, finished with 15 points, including 5-of-5 from three-point range, in the first meeting.

*- Kevin Augustine dished out a season-high seven assists and also finished in double figures for the first time since scoring 13 points against Kent State in the San Juan Shootout semifinals (12/21/2000).

*- Missouri's 12 three-pointers is the most by a Husker opponent this season, eclipsing the previous high of 10 by both UMKC and Alaska-Fairbanks.

*- Nebraska's 85 points tied a season high and is the sixth time NU has scored 80 or more points in a game this season. Nebraska is now 4-0 at home when scoring at least 80 points.

*- Nebraska's 6-of-6 performance in the first half was the third time this season the Huskers were perfect from the foul line in a half this season (also at Pittsburgh [4-4] and at Missouri [6-6]).

*- Brian Conklin's five points marked the first time he had scored a point since scoring 10 points in the Big 12 opener at Missouri (1/6/2001)

*- With its 14 turnovers, NU has committed fewer than 15 turnovers for the second straight game. It also marks the fourth time this season that NU has had more assists than turnovers in a game.

*- Nebraska's 11-point second-half deficit was the largest deficit Nebraska overcame this season.