2008 Woodie Awards
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Cornhuskers drop second straight game
Luke Nichols
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Sports
The Nebraska men's basketball team dropped its second consecutive Big 12 Conference game, losing at Colorado on Tuesday night, 55-51.
"You've got to give them credit," NU Coach Doc Sadler said. "They came out and said, 'I'm going to look you eyeball to eyeball and see who's the better man and who's the tougher man,' and we're too concerned about the altitude instead of being ready to play basketball."
Sadler was upset with his team's lack of toughness throughout the game.
"When you let a team come out and beat you in the mouth and you don't respond and you're not overly more talented then the other team, this is what's going to happen," Sadler said. "We're not talented enough to just show up and play."
The Huskers (11-4, 0-2 Big 12) led for most of the first half thanks to an early 9-0 run highlighted by two layups from NU senior center Alecs Maric. The spurt turned a 10-6 NU deficit into a 15-10 NU lead, matching its largest lead of the night. But the Buffaloes (9-7, 1-1) responded later in the half. Down 18-13, CU went on a 7-0 run to take a 20-18 lead and grab hold of the game's momentum.
The Buffaloes took a 25-22 lead into halftime. Nebraska briefly recaptured the lead after a 3-pointer by NU freshman guard Cookie Miller made the score 29-28 with 17 minutes, 48 seconds left in the game.
But it would be Nebraska's last lead of the night.
The Buffs' biggest lead was 49-41 with 3:35 left in the game, but the Huskers weren't done fighting. After an outstanding layup by Miller and a 3-pointer by NU junior Paul Velander helped the Huskers pull to within 51-49 with 58 seconds left, CU made several clutch free throws to seal the game.
Cory Higgins had 13 points for Colorado while Richard Rory scored 12.
Miller led all scorers with 18 points, while Maric tacked on 14 of his own. They were the only two Huskers to score in double digits.
Despite being the smallest guy on the court at 5-foot-7, Miller's performance was the one bright spot for the Huskers.
"He's probably been the most consistent player all year," Sadler said. "The thing I told the team is, 'I know one guy who is going to fight,' and (Miller) did. He played a good basketball game."
Part of the toughness Sadler was talking about was getting loose balls and rebounds. The Huskers were outrebounded by the Buffaloes 37-32. The Huskers allowed 11 offensive rebounds while only snagging eight of their own. Another big concern for the Huskers was finding more scoring threats. NU sophomore guards Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson, along with junior guard Ade Dagunduro, combined for just15 points. And the only bench points came from Velander, who scored four.
The Huskers will play next at home Saturday night against Baylor.
"We've got to find the flow offensively and find somebody who can score baskets besides Aleks," Sadler said. "Somebody's got to step up."
LukeNichols@Dailynebraskan
"You've got to give them credit," NU Coach Doc Sadler said. "They came out and said, 'I'm going to look you eyeball to eyeball and see who's the better man and who's the tougher man,' and we're too concerned about the altitude instead of being ready to play basketball."
Sadler was upset with his team's lack of toughness throughout the game.
"When you let a team come out and beat you in the mouth and you don't respond and you're not overly more talented then the other team, this is what's going to happen," Sadler said. "We're not talented enough to just show up and play."
The Huskers (11-4, 0-2 Big 12) led for most of the first half thanks to an early 9-0 run highlighted by two layups from NU senior center Alecs Maric. The spurt turned a 10-6 NU deficit into a 15-10 NU lead, matching its largest lead of the night. But the Buffaloes (9-7, 1-1) responded later in the half. Down 18-13, CU went on a 7-0 run to take a 20-18 lead and grab hold of the game's momentum.
The Buffaloes took a 25-22 lead into halftime. Nebraska briefly recaptured the lead after a 3-pointer by NU freshman guard Cookie Miller made the score 29-28 with 17 minutes, 48 seconds left in the game.
But it would be Nebraska's last lead of the night.
The Buffs' biggest lead was 49-41 with 3:35 left in the game, but the Huskers weren't done fighting. After an outstanding layup by Miller and a 3-pointer by NU junior Paul Velander helped the Huskers pull to within 51-49 with 58 seconds left, CU made several clutch free throws to seal the game.
Cory Higgins had 13 points for Colorado while Richard Rory scored 12.
Miller led all scorers with 18 points, while Maric tacked on 14 of his own. They were the only two Huskers to score in double digits.
Despite being the smallest guy on the court at 5-foot-7, Miller's performance was the one bright spot for the Huskers.
"He's probably been the most consistent player all year," Sadler said. "The thing I told the team is, 'I know one guy who is going to fight,' and (Miller) did. He played a good basketball game."
Part of the toughness Sadler was talking about was getting loose balls and rebounds. The Huskers were outrebounded by the Buffaloes 37-32. The Huskers allowed 11 offensive rebounds while only snagging eight of their own. Another big concern for the Huskers was finding more scoring threats. NU sophomore guards Sek Henry and Ryan Anderson, along with junior guard Ade Dagunduro, combined for just15 points. And the only bench points came from Velander, who scored four.
The Huskers will play next at home Saturday night against Baylor.
"We've got to find the flow offensively and find somebody who can score baskets besides Aleks," Sadler said. "Somebody's got to step up."
LukeNichols@Dailynebraskan
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