Huskers Fall to No. 6/7 Texas A&M

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ?   Despite a team-high 18 points from freshman Ryan Anderson, the Nebraska men’s basketball team was unable to pull an upset against sixth-ranked Texas A&M, falling 66-55 Saturday evening at the DevaneyCenter. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Anderson, a freshman from Seattle who has averaged 18.7 points per game in NU’s three games against ranked opponents this season, totaled 18 points and six rebounds, but Nebraska (14-9, 3-6 Big 12) saw its two-game win streak snapped. 

 

Anderson was one of three Huskers to finish in double figures. Aleks Maric finished with 15 points, including 13 points in the second half, while Marcus Perry totaled 11, including three 3-pointers. 

 

Texas A&M’s Josh Carter led all scorers, tying a career-high with 26 points, including eight 3-pointers. With the win, the Aggies (21-3, 9-1 Big 12) remained one game up on Kansas for the Big 12 Conference lead.

Carter’s eight 3-pointers tied the DevaneyCenter record for most 3-pointers made in one game, matching a mark set five other times in since the building was opened in 1976, including four times by opponents. Carter is the only player in the nation to record at least eight 3-pointers in three separate games this year.

 

The opening half quickly turned into a dual between Anderson and Carter, who combined for 35 of the 56 total points between the two teams. Anderson, who scored all 18 of his points in the opening 20 minutes, hit 6-of-10 shots from the floor for 18 of the Huskers’ 24 points. He connected on his first four from 3-point range and first five overall. 

 

Carter, who opened the night by connecting on his first five shots, totaled 17 points, including 3-pointers in the opening half.  He did most of his damage early on, scoring eight straight points to turn an 8-all deadlock into a 16-8 cushion with 13:33 left in the first half. 

 

The Huskers would turn to their long-range shooting to cut into the Aggie lead, as consecutive 3-pointers by Anderson and senior Marcus Perry turned a seven-point deficit into a 21-20 ballgame. In all, Nebraska hit 6-of-13 shots from beyond the arc in the opening stanza, including four 3-pointers by Anderson, which equaled the most 3-pointers allowed by Texas A&M this season.

 

The Huskers took their only lead of the half at 24-23 on an Anderson basket with 5:23 before halftime, but could not sustain the momentum, going without a basket the rest of the first half. Donald Sloan’s jumper triggered an 8-0 Aggie run to end the half, as A&M took a 32-24 lead unto the intermission. Texas A&M held NU to 31 percent shooting, while the Huskers limited the visiting Aggies to just 41 percent from the floor early on.

 

The Aggies, who held NU without a basket for a span of 7:24 stretching both halves, extended their lead to 45-31 after Carter’s eighth 3-pointer of the night, but Nebraska roared back. The Huskers scored eight unanswered points, pulling to within 45-39 on Parry’s 3-pointer with 8:25 remaining. NU stayed within striking distance until the waning minutes and got to within 57-51 after a steal and basket by Charles Richardson with 3:35 left.  

 

Acie Law, who was held in check for most of the night and totaled just nine points, on 2-of-7 shooting, and five assists, responded with a key 3-pointer from the top of the key, stemming NU’s momentum and extending the A&M lead to 60-51 with 3:11 left. Nebraska got within 60-53 after a Maric dunk with 2:01 left, but missed its final theee attempts from long range to pull closer.

The Huskers return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 13, as they host KansasState beginning at 7 p.m. The game will be televised across the state on Fox Sports Midwest.