Traditionally, Indiana has sometimes gotten the higher of Nebraska.
The final 4 conferences have advised a distinct story. Friday evening was the most recent chapter in Nebraska’s current domination of the Hoosiers. The Huskers used a late 17-1 run to tug away in an 85-68 win at Pinnacle Financial institution Area.
Indiana had its possibilities all through the sport, however finally, the dearth of execution value them an opportunity at a helpful Huge Ten street win.
The opening minutes appeared like the start of an extended evening for the Hoosiers. Nebraska began with the recent hand and constructed a 13-3 lead within the first three minutes. Indiana, nevertheless, discovered its footing. The Hoosiers took their first lead with 11:37 left within the first half and continued a seesaw battle between the Huskers for the rest of the primary and components of the second half. On the break, Indiana was down 44-41.
Because the second half began, Indiana’s troubles started to resurface because the Hoosiers failed to supply resistance in opposition to a Nebraska offense that remained pink sizzling.
“We had no defensive presence to begin the sport,” Mike Woodson mentioned postgame. “That’s one thing that we simply gotta we gotta hold working and get it fastened, as a result of particularly on the street… you understand, we had our alternatives. We had been a five-point sport, I believe, with 5 minutes on the clock, however we simply couldn’t make pictures. We had attractiveness.”
The Hoosiers by no means appeared to search out an offensive rhythm, primarily as a result of two of their greatest scoring choices had been off the ground for a lot of the sport. Mackenzie Mgbako and Malik Reneau battled foul bother all through the sport.
Myles Rice delivered a strong second-half efficiency to spice up IU however couldn’t tackle the Huskers alone. He completed with 14 second-half factors out of Indiana’s 27, however his teammates couldn’t get something rolling. No different Hoosier scored greater than three factors within the second half.
The Hoosiers had a wholesome dose of strong seems from the ground within the second half however shot a dismal 27.8 p.c. Indiana tried 35 3-pointers, essentially the most in a sport for this system within the Mike Woodson period. Nonetheless, after beginning the sport 5-for-8, they transformed simply eight of these seems. Indiana was 3-for-20 on 3s within the second half.
“We had attractiveness,” Woodson mentioned. “Simply didn’t make them. We may take 30, 40, 50 threes. You gotta step up and make them while you take them.”
Coming off a 37-point drubbing at Michigan State in its final sport, Nebraska performed a well-rounded sport that showcased its robust protection and mature offense. The Huskers completed the sport taking pictures 61 p.c, and their main scorer, Brice Williams, scored a game-high 30 factors.
“They made pictures, however you understand, we obtained to be higher defensively,” Woodson mentioned. “I’m on these guys continually. We work on protection and, you understand, I imply, I do know protection wins, particularly while you’re not making pictures. At the least it retains you within the ball sport. Tonight, they added each performs, they made pictures, and we weren’t excellent defensively.”
There was a small batch of hope with below seven minutes to go within the second half. Luke Goode made a 3 off his personal rebound to convey the sport inside one possession at 68-67. From there, Nebraska went on its decisive 17-1 run as Indiana went scoreless within the closing 3:08.
Indiana misplaced to Nebraska for the fourth straight time with every defeat by at the least 15 factors.
With an NCAA match resume that appears naked, Friday marked one other contest wherein the Hoosiers did not put collectively a strong effort for 40 minutes. At 1-1 in Huge Ten play and with simply two non-conference video games remaining, Indiana is trending in the direction of one other season on the skin wanting in of March Insanity.
(Picture credit score: IU Athletics)
Filed to: Nebraska Cornhuskers
