Nebraska picked up its first conference win of the season with a decisive 85-68 victory against Indiana at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday night.
Nebraska (7-2) held Indiana (8-3) to 23 percent shooting from deep. The Hoosiers entered the game shooting 36 percent from three as a team.
Brice Williams led all scorers with a season-high 30 points. Juwan Gary added 14 points and five rebounds, as four Huskers reached double-figures in scoring on the night.
The Huskers shot 61.2 percent from the field, including 57.1 percent from three, which are both season-best shooting performances.
The Huskers got the quick start they needed, as Williams scored eight early points to give Nebraska a 13-3 lead, forcing Indiana to take a timeout. Miles Rice and IU came out of the timeout, scoring seven quick points to cut the lead to seven at the first media timeout.
The Hoosiers kept the pressuring the Big Red, going on a 13-2 run to take the lead at 23-19 with 11:09 to play in the half. Ahron Ulis and Connor Essegian came into the game, scoring the next nine NU points to regain the lead in the first half. IU went on a 7-0 run over the next two minutes before Essegian knocked down a deep three to bring the Huskers back within one.
The Hoosiers were able to extend their lead to 37-33 before Gary led a 7-0 Husker run to retake the lead with just over two minutes left in the half. Leading 44-41 after the first half, the Big Red went 15-of-23 from the field, including 5-of-7 from three. Williams led the offensive effort with 14 points, and Berke Buyuktuncel pushed the defense forward with four rebounds.
The start of the second half was very back-and-forth until layups by Andrew Morgan, Essegian and Gary helped the Huskers take a 58-49 lead with 13:44 to play. Morgan and Miles Rice traded baskets, keeping the Huskers at a 62-58 lead. Rice scored 13 straight points to help the Hoosiers tie the game at 64 a piece with less than ten minutes remaining.
Williams and Gary sparked a 14-3 run to give the Big Red their largest lead of the game at 78-67 with 3:30 left in regulation. The Huskers ended the game on a 7-0 run to close out Indiana in convincing fashion for the fourth straight win over the Hoosiers for the Big Red.
The Huskers return to action on Sunday, Dec. 22, as the Huskers take on Murray State in Honolulu, Hawaii, as part of the Diamond Head Classic. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. (CT).
