Huskers Ride Historic Maric Effort to Win Over K-State

Lincoln? Aleks Maric set the tone early, scoring 17 of Nebraska’s first 21 points en route to a career-high 41-point performance as the Huskers defeated Kansas State, 74-63, Tuesday night at the Devaney Center.

Maric hit 13-of-18 shots from the field for a stellar 68.4 percent, but it was his aggressive nature that netted him a Big 12-record 25 free throw attempts and eight rebounds. Maric became just the fourth Husker in school history to score 40 points in a game, and his 41 points were the most ever by a Nebraska player at home.

Maric had a chance for the school and Devaney Center record, but missed six of his last eight free-throw attempts after playing 29 minutes in the physical contest. His effort marked the eighth 40-point effort in the 11-year Big 12 era.

Nebraska won its third league game in four tries to improve to 15-9 on the season and 4-6 in Big 12 play. Kansas State, which entered the game receiving votes in both major national polls, dropped to 18-8 and 7-4 in the Big 12.

Marcus Perry chipped in seven points for the Huskers on only three attempts from the field in addition to his six rebounds. Ryan Anderson added four points and six boards, while Charles Richardson netted a team-high six assists.

Cartier Martin, who fouled out late in the game, led Kansas State with 22 points, while Jermaine Maybank and Lance Harris each added 12. David Hoskins pulled down a team-high seven boards for the Wildcats. 

In a solid first half, Nebraska held Kansas State to just 23 points ? its lowest first-half output in conference play this season ? on only 9-of-23 shooting. The Huskers were the aggressors in the first half, forcing the ball inside to earn 12 free throw attempts while launching just three shots from behind the arc after attempting 20 3-pointers in the teams’ first meeting.

Nebraska connected on 10-of-18 shots from the field, including 9-of-15 from inside the arc, in the first half. Aside from Maric, who went 5-of-10, the five other Huskers who attempted a two-point field goal went 5-of-7, as Maric’s presence in the middle opened up space for the rest of the team.

NU made a concerted effort to get Maric involved early and often. After scoring just four points in his last five first halves, Maric sank the first basket of the game and poured in 17 of the Huskers’ first 21 points ? including eight straight in a 4:19 stretch ? before taking a breather with 6:38 remaining in the period.

Maric reached double figures at the 8:43 mark, when he finished a nice lob from Marcus Perry to pull the Huskers to within one at 16-15. He added a reverse layup the next possession to keep NU down by only one.

Maric continued the early barrage by giving the Huskers the lead with a pair of free throws after Mike Smith made a great hustle play to keep the possession alive. Maric knocked down two more free throws for his 16th and 17th points of the period before sitting, marking his highest scoring total in six games.

With Maric on the bench, Smith stepped up and hit back-to-back field goals ? tying his career high for most field goals in a game ? to extend NU’s advantage to 25-21.

Nebraska held K-State scoreless for the last 2:38 of the half. The Wildcats hit just one field goal over the last 6:15 as Nebraska turned a 21-all tie into a six-point halftime advantage with an 8-2 run. Perry added the Huskers’ first 3-pointer with five seconds remaining to give NU momentum and a 29-23 lead going into the locker room.

The Wildcats saw much more of Maric in the second half as he scored on two of the Huskers’ first three possessions to hit the 20-point plateau and give NU a double-digit lead at 36-25.

Giving Maric a breather, Kyle Marks stepped up and forced a steal and made an athletic tip-in to put Nebraska up 44-34 and force KSU coach Bob Huggins to call a timeout with 12:22 remaining.

Following the timeout, K-State had a chance to cut into the lead with Maric on the bench, but after Clent Stewart hit a three to pull the Wildcats with seven, Lance Harris missed a point-blank try and committed a foul to give the ball back to the Huskers at the second media timeout.

After K-State pull to within six at 48-42, a four-point possession put Nebraska up by 11 at 52-43. Maric hit a bucket for his 30th point of the game, the second 30-point scoring game of his career. Maric was fouled on the play and after the rebound went off Kansas State and a technical fouled was assessed to KSU. Perry knocked down both technical free throws before Maric was fouled and missed both attempts.

Maric then recorded back-to-back dunks after perfect feeds from Charles Richardson Jr. and Ryan Anderson to force a second Wildcat timeout with the Huskers leading 56-44 with 6:58 remaining.

Following another Maric layup, the Australian native went to the line with a chance to tie and surpass his previous career high of 37 points at Iowa State last February. After missing his first attempt, Maric connected on the second for his 37th point of the night.

Following a short stay on the bench, Maric converted another uncontested layup after the Huskers broke the press. Leading 66-58, Maric hit the 40-point mark with a pair of free throws that gave him 41 points and the Huskers’ a 10-point lead with just over a minute remaining.

The Huskers next travel to Lawrence, Kan., for a Saturday showdown with the No. 8/9 Kansas Jayhawks. Tip off is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN Plus.