STARKVILLE, Miss. — Miami transfer James Palmer scored a game-high 17 points and Nebraska built a 23-point lead Sunday on its way to a 76-72 win over Mississippi State in a charity exhibition basketball game at Humphrey Coliseum.
Palmer, joining the Husker lineup this season after a redshirt year, made 5 of 6 shots from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers. Glynn Watson and Jordy Tshimanga had 11 points each in a balanced NU attack that saw 10 of 11 players score.
The proceeds from the game went to organizations dealing with hurricane relief, as Nebraska coach Tim Miles and Mississippi State coach Ben Howland announced pregame that they had each contributed $2,500. Fans were encouraged to donate upon arriving at the arena Sunday.
The Bulldogs, who returned four starters from last year’s team, whittled the deficit to 73-70 on a pair of Nick Weatherspoon free throws with 15.4 seconds left. Nebraska got the ball to Watson, who made 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead back to four.
Nebraska then got a stop on the Bulldogs’ Lamar Peters, and Jack McVeigh sank a pair of free throws with five seconds left to seal the Husker win.
Mississippi State made just 1 of 13 shots from 3-point range. E.J. Datcher led the Bulldogs with 12 points and six rebounds.
Nebraska built a 48-32 halftime lead by shooting 51.5 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes (17 of 33), which included connecting on 8 of 14 3-pointers. Palmer scored the Huskers’ first seven points.
Georgetown transfer Isaac Copeland had four points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes for NU. Copeland missed all six of his 3-point attempts.
Watson also added five assists and a steal while playing a team-high 32 minutes.
