Maric Leads Huskers Over Hawks, 86-50, in Non-Conference Finale

Lincoln ? Behind a game-high 22 points from senior Aleks Maric, Nebraska extended its winning streak to six games and began 2008 on a strong note with an 86-50 win over Maryland EasternShore Friday night at the DevaneyCenter.

 

Maric posted a 22-point, eight-rebound performance, helping the Huskers improve to 11-2 on the season and win their 24th straight non-conference home game heading into Big 12 action next Saturday night on ESPN against No. 3 Kansas. Nebraska will be entering the conference opener with 11 wins for the second year in the row, and just the second time in the Big 12 era (since 1996-97).

 

After building a 15-point halftime advantage, Nebraska started the second half on a 15-2 run that included 10 points from Maric. The 6-11 center looked to be on his way to another double-double after scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in the first half, but his services were not needed over the final 11 minutes of the game that was quickly put out of reach early in the second half.

 

Before a crowd of 7,106 fans, Nebraska’s show to begin the final 20 minutes was nothing short of a scoring barrage, as the Huskers put up 32 points in the first 8:17 of the half. Freshman point guard Cookie Miller was dishing and distributing during the run with six assists. He finished the game with nine, just one short of tallying back-to-back double-digit assist games.

 

The Huskers finished the game shooting 56.9 percent (33-of-58) from the field, including 62.5 percent in the second half alone. Following an Ade Dagunduro miss to open the second period, Nebraska had a stretch of 13 consecutive made shots on its way to building a 45-point lead (75-30) on a Paul Velander's 3-pointer with 8:53 remaining. Nebraska's 50 second-half points were just one point away from tying for most points in a half under Coach Doc Sadler.

 

Nebraska had a similar hot start to open the game, when it hit four of its first five shots, including a pair of buckets from sophomore Ryan Anderson. The Hawks struggled to find the net, missing their first five attempts, but got on the scoreboard 3:35 into the game with a field golf from Ishmawiyl McFadden. The Huskers’ strong start continued well into the first half, as NU knocked down 50 percent of its shots (13-of-26) in the opening frame.

 

The Husker lead reached a double-digit lead at 14-4 on a fast break when Steve Harley found Shang Ping for a one-handed slam. A native of Temple Hills, Md., Harley finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line on his way to eight points and career-best six rebounds. Dagunduro gave the Huskers 12 points as the only other double-figure scorer alongside Maric.

 

Despite shooting just 1-for-10 to start the game, UMES closed Nebraska’s initial double-digit lead to six points (16-10) with 9:45 remaining in the first half, as it converted on 6-of-8 free-throw attempts. Nebraska broke out of its short slump on a Velander 3-pointer with 8:47 left, stretching NU’s lead to nine before a Dagunduro’s putback.

 

UMES would again close the Husker lead to six (23-17) at 6:17 on an Ed Tyson 3-pointer. Although Tyson had 10 first-half points, it wasn’t enough to keep the Hawks in the game, as Nebraska ended the half on a 13-4 run over the final six minutes to go into the break with a 36-21 lead.

 

The Huskers now have eight days to prepare for No. 3 Kansas, who comes to the DevaneyCenter for an 8 p.m. contest next Saturday, Jan. 12. Single game conference tickets go on sale Tuesday, Jan. 8 on Huskers.com and at the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office or by calling 1-800-8BIGRED.