ISU Downs Huskers in Ames

AMES, Iowa ----- Sophomore Brian Conklin scored a career-high 20 points and the Huskers set a school record with just three turnovers, but couldn't overcome the Cyclones' hot shooting, as Iowa State took an 85-79 victory over Nebraska here Saturday in front of 14,092.

NU got off to a hot start as Conklin hit his first two attempts from the field, both from behind the arc. The 6-11 forward went on to hit 6-of-10 in the game from three-point range, while surpassing his previous career high of 18 points. Conklin's six treys were just one off the school record and tied for the most by a Husker this season.

Nebraska hit 53.3 percent from the floor in the opening frame and had its highest first-half output on the road this season, as it took a seven-point lead into halftime. Senior Cary Cochran hit a three-pointer with 5:07 left in the half to start a 10-4 run that helped NU to the 43-36 lead at the intermission.

After the break, Nebraska hit two of its first three shots from the floor, but ISU was even hotter. The Cyclones hit 12 of their first 14 shots from the field as Tyray Pearson and Omar Bynum came alive during the run, combining for 29 second-half points. Pearson and Shane Power, who had 11 in the first half, each finished with 20, while Bynum had 19 and Jake Sullivan added 18, as the Cyclones shot 60.4 percent for the game.

Cochran added four treys, as Nebraska had 14 on the day, just one off the school record set earlier this season. While that record didn't fall, the team record for fewest turnovers in a game did fall, as the Huskers committed just one turnover in the first half and two in the second. The previous record for fewest turnovers was four, last equaled in 1983.

While giving away just four, Nebraska added a season-high 20 assists as the Huskers hit 44.4 percent from the floor. Freshman Jake Muhleisen tied his career high with eight assists on the day, while senior John Robinson II added a career-high seven assists.

Muhleisen also finished with 13 points and a team-high five rebounds, while Cochran had 14 points, moving him even closer to the 1,000-point plateau. Cochran now has 992 career points, and would become just the 23rd Husker in history to top the 1,000-point barrier. Brennon Clemmons came off the bench to add 10 points.

Nebraska returns to action on Feb. 20, when it heads to College Station, Texas, for a contest at Texas A&M. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m.