Courtesy of Husker Athletics
C.J. Wilcher scored a game-high 14 points, but turnovers proved costly in a 73-51 loss at Maryland on Saturday afternoon.
Wilcher went 5-of-7 from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, but was the only Husker in double figures, as Nebraska (15-6, 5-5 Big Ten) was held to a season-low 51 points.
Nebraska was done in by turnovers, as the Huskers had 18 turnovers that Maryland converted into 25 points and were out-rebounded 43-25 on the glass.
Julian Reese had 15 points and 16 rebounds to lead four Maryland (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten) players in double figures. Jamie Kaiser Jr. had 14 points off the bench, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, while Jahmir Young and Jahari Long had 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Nebraska got off to a blistering start, hitting four of their first five 3-pointers in jumping to a 12-2 lead after a Rienk Mast 3-pointer at the 15:30 mark.
Nebraska led 15-8 before Maryland ran off seven straight points, including five off the bench from Kaiser to knot it up. The Terps trailed 20-18 after a Wilcher 3-pointer before using another 10-2 run to build a 28-22 lead after a Julian Reese dunk.
The Huskers hit seven of their first 10 3-point attempts to begin the game, but Maryland, which averaged 6.2 3-pointers per game, hit seven in the first half alone and turned nine Husker turnovers into 14 points.
Nebraska pulled to within 28-25 after a Jamarques Lawrence 3-pointer with 7:23 left in the first half, but Maryland closed the half on a 16-2 spurt to build a 44-27 halftime lead, as the Huskers cooled off and shot 41 percent from the floor.
Maryland’ bench combined for 22 first-half points including 11 each from Long and Kaiser, who combined to shoot 7-of-10 from the floor, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range.
Nebraska got to within 44-30 after a Keisei Tominaga floater and a free throw from Brice Williams in the opening minutes of the second half, but Maryland went on an 8-0 run to push the margin to 22 at 52-30.
Nebraska trailed 57-32 before the Huskers ran off seven straight points to force a Maryland timeout with 11:49 left. Nebraska was not unable to pull closer, as two straight Husker turnovers were converted into baskets to stretch the lead back to 62-39 with 10:41 left.
The Huskers are back in action on Thursday evening, as they host Big Ten leader and No. 13 Wisconsin. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets.
Notes
*-C.J. Wilcher finished with 14 points, the 18th time in 21 games that a Husker bench player reached double figures. Wilcher’s 14 points marked the seventh time a bench player led NU in scoring.
*-Wilcher’s four 3-pointers tied a season high, as he also had four on two other occasions, most recently against Purdue
*-Nebraska went 10-21 from 3-point range, the 12th time NU reached double digits on 3-pointers. NU fell to 9-3 this season when hitting at least 10 3-pointers.
*-Nebraska was held to a season-low 51 points, the first time the Huskers were held under 60 points this season.
