Tough Nebraska defense held Maryland-Eastern Shore to just 31 percent shooting as the Cornhuskers defeated the Hawks, 69-50, Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. UMES struggled similarly from the perimeter, hitting just 32 percent of their three-point shots while committing 16 turnovers, which Nebraska (3-0) turned into 12 points. The Huskers also had a distinct advantage in the paint, outscoring the Hawks (1-3), 36-16.
Pryce Sandfort led Nebraska with 19 points on eight-for-13 shooting. Sam Hoiberg added 18 points on seven-for-10 from the field. But while Sandfort and Hoiberg were a combined 15-for-23 from the field (65 percent), the rest of the Huskers were a combined nine-for-38 (24 percent) shooting. Hoiberg also led Nebraska in rebounds with seven and assists with four. UMES was led by the 11 points on Trey Hall and the 10 points of Joseph Locandro.
The Huskers controlled the game early, leading 11-2 with 12:41 remaining until halftime. After the Hawks scored five straight points, Nebraska answered with a 7-1 run to open an 18-8 lead with nine minutes remaining in the first half. A UMES 7-0 run shrunk the Husker lead to 18-15 with 4:41 to play in the first half, but Nebraska responded with a 14-3 run to open a 32-18 advantage with 49 seconds to go until halftime. The Hawks got a free throw to send the game to the locker room with NU leading, 32-19.
The second half opened with Nebraska on a 16-2 run to balloon the lead to 43-22 with 14:27 to go. After a Hawks’ three, a 7-0 Huskers run pushed the lead to its largest of the game, 31, with NU holding a 55-24 edge. The Huskers cruised in from there to victory.
Nebraska will take a step up in competition in their next matchup, as the Huskers face Oklahoma Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.Dak. Pregame coverage begins at 5 p.m., with tipoff at 6 p.m. on KLIN.
