Pacific Rolls To Victory Over Huskers

STOCKTON, Calif. ----- The Huskers were held without a field goal over the final 11 minutes of the contest, and Pacific pulled away to defeat the Nebraska men's basketball team by 23 points, 75-52, here Saturday.

The game marked the largest margin of defeat for the Huskers (6-4) since an 83-55 loss at Kansas in 2000, as the Huskers missed their final 13 shots of the game. Nebraska hit a season-low 30.4 percent from the floor, including a season-low 22.6 percent from three-point range.

The Huskers pulled within three points, 49-46, with 11:01 remaining on a Brian Conklin three-pointer. The Tigers (8-3) then went on a 16-3 run over the next seven minutes, as Pacific finished the half hitting 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) to outscore NU 43-21 in the period.

Freshman guard Jake Muhleisen led the Huskers with 14 points, including 12 in the first half as the Huskers trailed by just one, 32-31, at the intermission. Muhleisen was held to just one basket in the second period as Nebraska hit just 5-of-24 from the floor.

Nebraska led twice in the contest, the first time coming at 9-8, when senior guard Cary Cochran hit a three-pointer at the 15:18 mark of the first period. Cochran, who finished with 10 points, extended his streak of games with at least one three-pointer to 33 games, while increasing his team career record for treys to 206 in the Huskers' fourth straight loss.

The Huskers were outrebounded 39-24, including 21-7 in the second period. Freshman John Turek made his first career start for Nebraska, picking up a career-high 10 rebounds in the loss. It was just the second double-figure rebounding effort for the Huskers this season.

Nebraska stayed within striking distance in the first half, as it hit 37.5 percent from the field. The Huskers fell behind by seven, 16-9, with 10:34 to play before the break, but the Huskers went on a 14-5 run to take a 23-21 lead with 6:43 left in the half. Muhleisen hit a pair of three-pointers and a layup while John Robinson II had a trey to key the rally.

The Huskers collected just nine assists in the contest, but committed a season-low six turnovers in the contest. Nebraska had just two turnovers in the second period, while forcing Pacific into 13 turnovers for the game.

Junior guard Demetrius Jackson keyed the Tigers' second half, as he scored all of his game-high 16 points after the intermission. Maurice McLemore added 14 points, while Mike Preston and Mike Hahn had 13 and 11 points, respectively, to give Pacific four double-figure scorers.