Huskers' Hot Shooting Takes Down TCU

Lincoln – Toney McCray had a season-high 15 points, including four 3-pointers, as Nebraska downed TCU, 70-56, Saturday afternoon at the Devaney Center.

McCray posted his first career double-double with 15 points, on 4-of-6 shooting, and a career-high 10 rebounds, as Nebraska improved to 8-2 on the season and extended its win streak to six games, its longest win streak since the start of the 2008-09 season.

The junior forward came off the bench to hit all four of his 3-point attempts, as the Huskers took control with a 13-0 second-half run, turning a one-point lead into a 59-45 lead with 6:38 remaining. McCray had 12 of his 16 points in the second half, as the Huskers shot 57.1 percent from the floor, including 5-of-8 from long range after halftime.

McCray and Lance Jeter tied for team-high honors with 15 points, while sophomore Jorge Brian Diaz had 13 points and a career-high 12 boards, as Nebraska enjoyed a 38-26 advantage on the glass and held TCU to its second-lowest offensive total of the season.
Jeter keyed an early run for the Huskers, as he connected on back-to-back 3-pointers as Nebraska ran off nine straight points, turning a 9-7 deficit into a 16-9 lead after a 3-point play by Jorge Brian Diaz. The Huskers, who shot 44 percent in the first half, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, eventually made it a 26-15 lead after an Eshaunte Jones 3-pointer with 8:53 left in the half and took a 33-24 halftime lead.

The Huskers’ advantage would be short lived, as TCU opened the second half with a 12-0 run, taking a 36-33 lead after a 3-pointer by Garlon Green before Diaz ended the run with a short jumper. The teams would battle back and forth until McCray’s 3-pointer triggered the Huskers’ decisive run. Jeter and McCray combined for 11 straight points before Drake Beranek’s layup pushed the lead to 59-44.

TCU (7-4) pulled to within 62-51 after Sammy Yeager 3-pointer with 5:20 left, but would get no closer, as a McCray’s 3-pointer and a steal and a dunk by Jeter made it a 16-point lead with 3:04 remaining, ending TCU’s comeback hopes.
Ronnie Moss’ 14 points led TCU, while Green finished with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.

Following the Huskers win over TCU, the Huskers continue their 10-game homestand Saturday, December 18th against Eastern Washington at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED.  The EWU game is one of the Valentino’s Family 4-Pack games where fans can purchase four tickets, four slices of Valentino’s pizza and 4 Pepsi products for $40. To take advantage of the offer, call the NU Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.