SDSU doesn't play the Huskers as close as UNO did last night. Save the talk of exhibition game. I was standing courtside last night and UNL played their top 10 players the whole game. The Husker fans were chewing their finger nails late in the game as UNO had a shot to take the lead with 30 seconds left. UNO was terrible from the free throw line or they probably win the game. Let me see... You struggle to beat Morningside at home and UNO almost beats the Huskers on the road. I know you were lucky not to play us last year because we would have spanked you but I am not so sure you would beat us this year. It should be an interesting year. Go Mavs!!!
Mavs#1
LINCOLN - Nebraska won't be accused of getting anyone's hopes too high after its first men's basketball exhibition of the season.
The Huskers built leads of 15 points in the first half and 18 in the second half against Division II UNO, but struggled to the end Monday night to hang on for a 70-65 victory before an estimated crowd of 5,100 at the Devaney Center.
"I'm extremely upset with the way we played," NU senior forward Jason Dourisseau said. "That was just terrible.
"The turnovers, the defense, the lack of rebounding - you name it, they pretty much did it to us. We almost let it get away."
Nebraska freshman Marcus Walker, who started at point guard, made up for missing his first eight shots by playing strong down the stretch.
After the University of Nebraska at Omaha closed to 62-60 with 3:48 left on guard Jamaal Byers' third 3-pointer in a three-minute stretch, Walker nailed two free throws.
UNO cut the gap to 64-63 on forward Ryan Curtis' layup. Then the Mavericks misfired on a backdoor lob that would have given them the lead.
Walker responded with a driving basket with 1:13 to go to push the Huskers' lead back to three points.
UNO twice had chances to tie, but missed shots with 37 and 30 seconds left. Walker, 1 of 8 from the field but 6 of 6 on free throws, then nailed two more foul shots to secure the win.
"He was really good for us the last four minutes," Nebraska coach Barry Collier said. "He has great confidence and a lot of youthful enthusiasm, although sometimes he's maybe a little naive as well."
UNO, which won 23 games last year and likely will be the favorite in the North Central Conference, took a 13-11 lead early in the game.
Then Nebraska showed a trapping defense in the halfcourt and went on a 19-2 run to take a 15-point lead. In that 14-possession stretch, UNO committed nine turnovers and missed 5 of 6 shots.
"I'd love to have that seven minutes back," Mavericks coach Derrin Hansen said. An 8-for-19 performance at the free-throw line also derailed any upset hopes.
Nebraska got 12 points and 10 rebounds from Joe McCray, but he shot 33 percent and committed five turnovers with no assists. Newcomer B.J. Walker, a junior college forward, had the toughest shooting night, going 1 for 10.
UNO got 12 points each from Curtis, a senior from Millard South, and Denny Johnston, a sophomore from Omaha Westside.
"Our bodies played a lot faster than our brains," Collier said. "UNO was really aggressive and prepared. After the initial impact our pressure had, we couldn't sustain that. So we need to get in better shape."
Mavs#1
LINCOLN - Nebraska won't be accused of getting anyone's hopes too high after its first men's basketball exhibition of the season.
The Huskers built leads of 15 points in the first half and 18 in the second half against Division II UNO, but struggled to the end Monday night to hang on for a 70-65 victory before an estimated crowd of 5,100 at the Devaney Center.
"I'm extremely upset with the way we played," NU senior forward Jason Dourisseau said. "That was just terrible.
"The turnovers, the defense, the lack of rebounding - you name it, they pretty much did it to us. We almost let it get away."
Nebraska freshman Marcus Walker, who started at point guard, made up for missing his first eight shots by playing strong down the stretch.
After the University of Nebraska at Omaha closed to 62-60 with 3:48 left on guard Jamaal Byers' third 3-pointer in a three-minute stretch, Walker nailed two free throws.
UNO cut the gap to 64-63 on forward Ryan Curtis' layup. Then the Mavericks misfired on a backdoor lob that would have given them the lead.
Walker responded with a driving basket with 1:13 to go to push the Huskers' lead back to three points.
UNO twice had chances to tie, but missed shots with 37 and 30 seconds left. Walker, 1 of 8 from the field but 6 of 6 on free throws, then nailed two more foul shots to secure the win.
"He was really good for us the last four minutes," Nebraska coach Barry Collier said. "He has great confidence and a lot of youthful enthusiasm, although sometimes he's maybe a little naive as well."
UNO, which won 23 games last year and likely will be the favorite in the North Central Conference, took a 13-11 lead early in the game.
Then Nebraska showed a trapping defense in the halfcourt and went on a 19-2 run to take a 15-point lead. In that 14-possession stretch, UNO committed nine turnovers and missed 5 of 6 shots.
"I'd love to have that seven minutes back," Mavericks coach Derrin Hansen said. An 8-for-19 performance at the free-throw line also derailed any upset hopes.
Nebraska got 12 points and 10 rebounds from Joe McCray, but he shot 33 percent and committed five turnovers with no assists. Newcomer B.J. Walker, a junior college forward, had the toughest shooting night, going 1 for 10.
UNO got 12 points each from Curtis, a senior from Millard South, and Denny Johnston, a sophomore from Omaha Westside.
"Our bodies played a lot faster than our brains," Collier said. "UNO was really aggressive and prepared. After the initial impact our pressure had, we couldn't sustain that. So we need to get in better shape."
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