Huskers Earn Tough Road Win at TCU

Ft. Worth --- After an impressive first-half defensive performance, the Nebraska basketball team held strong during a long shooting slump after the break to earn a 62-50 victory over TCU on Wednesday at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

With the victory, the Huskers improved to 2-0 while the Horned Frogs fell to 1-3 on the young season. It was Nebraska’s first victory in the opening true road game of the year since 1995-96, snapping a streak of 12 straight losses in true road openers. The last time NU won its first game of the season away from Lincoln (true road game or neutral site) was the opening game of the 2002-03 campaign with a victory over Centenary at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Nebraska stretched its 13-point halftime lead to 16 points, 42-26, on Chris Balham’s lone basket of the game with 17:38 remaining in the second period before going cold. NU was outscored 13-4 over the next 9:49 as the Horned Frogs pulled within seven on Kevin Langford’s free throws with just under eight minutes to play. Toney McCray’s basket at the 16:27 mark started a difficult shooting stretch as the Huskers missed eight straight shots and had three turnovers.

Cookie Miller’s free throws snapped a 6:28 scoreless drought for the Huskers and McCray finally got Nebraska started again with a 3-pointer from the corner as the shot clock drained down to give NU a 10-point lead, 49-39, with 7:19 to play. From there, Brandon Richardson added a 3-pointer with just under five minutes to play, putting NU back up 11. Nebraska then hit 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to seal the Huskers’ first true road win in non-conference play under Coach Doc Sadler.

Nebraska hit just 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from the floor in the second frame, after draining 52 percent (13-of-25) in the opening period. The Huskers also held a one-rebound advantage, 31-30, on the glass and forced 14 turnover with nine steals while harassing TCU into hitting just 27.0 percent (10-of-37) from the field.

The Huskers’ defensive pressure in the first half proved to be the difference as TCU was held to just four baskets in 21 attempts (19.0 percent). The Horned Frogs were fortunate to be down only 13 points considering the poor shooting, but Nebraska put TCU shooters to the free throw line 22 times in the opening period. TCU hit 16 free throws in the frame to only trail 37-24 at the half.

Senior Paul Velander started the Huskers’ game-changing surge, hitting a 3-pointer with 5:38 remaining in the first half to push NU’s lead to five points, 26-21. The basket started an 11-3 run to end the frame with a pair of redshirt freshmen leading the way. Richardson added a pair of free throws and a basket and McCray pitched in a pair of jumpers while Velander added his third trey of the half with 14 seconds remaining for the double-digit lead at the break.

Velander led Nebraska with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, the only Husker to reach double digits. McCray and senior Steve Harley added nine points, with McCray adding five boards. Junior Ryan Anderson posted a game-high eight rebounds while adding six points and two steals.

Langford added a game-high 19 points, including hitting 13-of-18 from the free throw line in 37 minutes of play. He helped TCU connect on 27-of-38 from the stripe while Nebraska hit 16-of-21 from the line (76.2 percent).

Nebraska returns home for a 1 p.m. contest against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. At the game, the Marines will be collecting new and unused toys for the “Toys for Tots” program for needy children in the Lincoln area. Fans are encouraged to bring a toy to donate before the game.