Huskers Roll to Record Home Win

Lincoln --- After a sluggish first period that resulted in a five-point halftime deficit, senior Steve Harley and sophomore Cookie Miller helped ignite the Nebraska offense as the Huskers cruised to a 75-48 victory over IPFW on Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

With the win, Nebraska snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 7-2 on the season. The win also helped Nebraska tie the school record for consecutive non-conference home wins, as NU picked up its 31st straight non-league win at the Devaney Center. The Huskers, who have never lost a non-conference home game under third-year coach Doc Sadler (27-0), last lost in non-league play at home during the 2005-06 season.

The Huskers trailed 34-29 at the intermission, but came out on fire, hitting 64.0 percent (16-of-25) from the floor in the second period to run away from the upstart Mastodons. While the offense was rolling, Nebraska also put the clamps on defensively, holding IPFW to just 14 points in the second period. The Mastodons hit just 21.7 percent (5-of-23) in the second half from the floor.

Miller, who came off the bench in the first half but started after the break, got Nebraska out of the gate quickly, recording four assists, two steals and a basket in the first 5:15 of the second half. The Charleston, W. Va., native had an assist on each of the Huskers' first two baskets before Harley made his lone assist on Toney McCray's second of three 3-pointers in the game that put Nebraska ahead 39-35.

After a Deilvez Yearby jumper cut the lead back to two, Nebraska used a 21-5 run to erase any doubt of an upset. Miller started the run with a layup and then posted a steal on the other end, setting up Harley's easy basket on one of Miller's season-high six assists on the game. Miller, who did not have a turnover in the contest, also had a season-high four steals and finished with six points.

McCray added five straight points and Harley added three baskets in the run, capping it for a 60-42 lead with 6:39 to play. Harley finished with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field while adding a pair of rebounds, an assist and a steal. It was the second 20-point game of his career, topping his previous best of 20 points in an upset of nationally ranked Kansas State at home last season.

McCray finished with 11 points, his third double-figure scoring effort in four games. Nebraska had four players in double figures as Sek Henry added 11 points and three steals while Dagunduro finished with 10 points and a team-high five rebounds.

The Huskers were unable to get the offense in gear early in the game despite getting a quick basket from Dagunduro just 32 seconds into the contest. NU didn't score again until Harley hit a 3-pointer at the 15:48 mark. Harley, who ranks third in the BIg 12 Conference in free throw percentage, was fouled on the play and knocked down the charity shot to pull Nebraska within one, 7-6.

Nebraska continued to struggle, hitting just three of its first nine shots and trailed IPFW 16-10 on Trey McCorkle's basket before finally getting the offense untracked.

Miller was also the catalyst in the Huskers' first-half punch, working both the offensive and defensive ends to jump-start the squad. Miller began NU's offensive surge as he took a nice drive to the basket where he was fouled and got to the free throw line. He hit the first charity shot before misfiring on the second, but the scrappy sophomore battled for the offensive board, ripping it away from an IPFW defender in mid air and retaining the possession. He followed with a nice drive from the right side, and pushed a scoop shot off the glass to pull NU within three.

McCray then tied the game on a 3-pointer following possibly the Huskers' best ball movement of the half on the next possession and Paul Velander added another trey to push Nebraska to a 19-16 advantage. Dagunduro finished the Huskers' 11-0 run as he added another bucket off a nifty behind-the-back bounce pass from Miller, who had stripped the ball at the other end.

Following a pair of Mastodon free throws, Harley added back-to-back baskets, with each being a benefit of the defense. Miller set up the first with his quick hands, stealing an entry pass and getting the break started, while Brandon Richardson's steal and pass to Dagunduro led to a long outlet and easy basket for Harley, who led all scorers in the opening period with 12 points.

After charging ahead 25-18, the Huskers saw the lead vanish just as quickly as IPFW used a 16-4 run over the final 5:02 to take a 34-29 lead into the break. Jeremy Mixon, who went 3-for-3 from the floor in the opening half, hit a long 3-pointer with three seconds remaining for the Mastodon's five-point advantage.

Mixon finished the game as the only double-figure scorer for IPFW, posting 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting of the bench. The Mastodons hit just 34.1 percent from the field for the contest, and committed 24 turnovers.

IPFW held a 31-26 advantage on the glass but Nebraska made up for it by hitting 8-of-15 from 3-point range. The Huskers ended the game hitting 60.9 percent from the floor, the second straight home game NU hit better than 60 percent from the floor.

Nebraska returns to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 23, when the Huskers take on UMBC at the Devaney Center. The game will tip off at 7:05 p.m. and can be seen on Fox Sports Midwest in the state of Nebraska and on ESPN FullCourt around the nation.