Huskers Run Past Buffaloes

Lincoln - Senior Wes Wilkinson and sophomore Aleks Maric each posted a double-double and the Huskers used a superb first-half defensive effort to build a 20-point halftime en route to a 93-77 win over Colorado Wednesday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

 

Nebraska (17-9, 7-6 Big 12) led by double figures for most of the game, leading by as many as 29 in the second half. The victory propelled the Huskers into a tie for fourth place in the Big 12 Conference standings, along with Colorado (17-7, 7-6) and Texas A&M, who will play host to the Huskers this weekend.

 

Five Huskers totaled double figures against the Buffs, including Wilkinson's 17 and Maric's 13. Freshman Jamel White also added 17 points, while senior Jason Dourisseau scored 13 and junior Charles Richardson Jr. added 12. On the glass, Maric and Wilkinson each pulled down 13 boards to help Nebraska earn a 51-30 rebounding edge, its second-highest rebound margin of the season. 

 

Nebraska built a 20-point halftime lead behind an efficient offense and a stifling defense. NU’s defense limited Colorado to 24 percent shooting (7-of-29) in the period as the Buffaloes hit only three of their first 20 shots. CU connected on just two field goals in an 11:39 span, including going more than six minutes without a field goal.

 

CU star Richard Roby, who scored 30 points in the first teams' first meeting, did not score a point in the first half and was limited to just three shots and two rebounds in 15 minutes. Roby finished the game with seven points on 2-of-11 shooting, including 0-of-9 from beyond the arc. It was his lowest scoring output in conference play this season.

 

With the defense running on all cylinders, Nebraska rattled off runs of 9-0, 12-0 and 7-0 to control the first half. The Huskers shot 54 percent from the field (13-of-24) and 12-of-14 at the free throw line as eight different players scored in the opening frame.

 

Both teams traded baskets early before Nebraska broke a 4-all tie with a 9-0 run to take a 13-4 lead six minutes into the game. The Huskers hit 4-of-6 shots during the run, including a 3-pointer by Richardson. On the defensive end, NU held Colorado scoreless for a stretch of 4:38, allowing the Huskers to build their nine-point advantage.

 

Nebraska then went into a cold spell of its own, going 5:21 without a field goal. The Huskers managed to maintain their lead though, as Colorado scored just three points during the stretch.

 

NU ended its drought when Wilkinson converted a traditional three-point play, which helped spark a 12-0 Husker run. Following a Buffalo turnover, junior Marcus Perry nailed a 3-pointer and sophomore Aleks Maric added a bucket to give Nebraska a 22-7 lead. Perry drained another trey to cap the run and put the Huskers up by 19.

 

Colorado closed the gap to 11 before Nebraska answered with a 7-0 run to build a 37-19 cushion. NU added four free throws and a Marcus Walker jumper in the final minute of the half to take a 43-23 lead into the locker room.

 

Nebraska did not let up after halftime as consecutive 3-pointers from White and Wilkinson gave Nebraska a 51-27 advantage 3:15 into the second half. Another 3-pointer from White and a layup from Maric capped an 8-2 Husker run that put NU up 56-29.

 

The freshman combination of White and Walker then nailed back-to-back treys that gave Nebraska its largest lead of the game at 29 points.

 

Following the second media timeout of the half, Colorado used a full-court press to try to get back in the game. The Buffaloes forced four turnovers and hit five consecutive shots for a quick 11-0 spurt in a span of 1:14 to cut the Husker lead to 64-47.

 

Colorado never closed within single digits as Nebraska raced to its largest margin of victory in league play. The Huskers' 93 points were the second-highest point total of the season and also the most points NU has scored in a regulation conference game since 2002.

 

The Huskers are on the road this weekend, traveling to College Station, Texas, for a 3 p.m. contest with the Texas A&M Aggies. The game will be heard on the Pinnacle Sports Network and can be seen regionally on ESPN+.