The Nebraska men’s basketball team looks for its third straight win on Thursday, as the Huskers travel to No. 5 Iowa. Tipoff from Carver-Hawkeye Arena is slated for shortly after 8 p.m.
The Huskers (7-17, 3-14 Big Ten) put together their best performance of the year in a 72-51 win over Rutgers Monday night. Lat Mayen had 20 of his career-high 25 points in the first half, as the Huskers never trailed and built a double-digit lead in the first 10 minutes and were in control most of the night. Nebraska shot 52 percent from the floor, while holding Rutgers to 39 percent shooting, including 3-of-23 from 3-point range. Derrick Walker added a career-high 14 points and six rebounds, while Trey McGowens added 12 points and five assists.
The Huskers have started to click on offense in recent games, shooting 51 percent from the field and averaging 75.8 points per game over the last four contests entering Thursday’s contest. NU is averaging 16.5 assists in that stretch, compared to just 12.8 in the Huskers’ first 20 contests. Part of that is the emergence of Derrick Walker during the second half of the year. Walker, who sat out last year and played in only one game before NU’s pause, is averaging 10.5 points on 67 percent shooting over the Huskers’ last four games.
Iowa (18-7, 12-6 Big Ten) comes into Thursday’s matchup playing its best basketball of the season, as the Hawkeyes have won five of their last six, including a 16-point win at No. 5 Ohio State last week. The Hawkeyes, who climbed to fifth in this week’s AP poll, are led by reigning Big Ten player of the Year Luka Garza, who had 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 11 rebounds against Ohio State. Joe Weiskamp added 19 points, including five 3-pointers, while the Hawkeyes forced 13 turnovers and held Ohio State to 45 percent shooting.
