Nebraska will be trying to win consecutive games for the first time since late last season when it hosts Southern in a nonconference game on Sunday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.
In the midst of a season-opening seven-game homestand, the Cornhuskers (2-2) are coming off a 78-60 win over Idaho State on Friday night. It was their first complete performance of the season, as they shot 54.4 percent from the field after being below 41 percent in their first three games.
“That’s how it has to look and that’s when we are at our best, when we get the ball hopping out there,” said Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg, whose team had a season-best 18 assists.
That win also saw leading scorers Bryce McGowens and Alonzo Verge Jr. combine for just 17 points, as Nebraska’s offense was more balanced.
Junior forward Derrick Walker tied his career high with 14 points, making all five shots.
“We wanted to get Derrick going early,” Hoiberg said. “He does so many little things for this team, such as screening, so to get him going a little bit is big for our team because he was so good in the preseason.”
Southern (1-3) comes to Lincoln for its fifth straight road game, the most recent a 71-68 loss Friday at South Dakota. The Jaguars got 19 points from Jaylen Saddler, a senior guard who is averaging 13.5 points per game.
Picked to finish fifth in the SWAC, Southern plays 10 of its 13 nonconference games on the road. It has already played games in Kentucky, South Dakota and Texas and has later trips to Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky again.
The Jaguars last beat a power-conference school in 2015, winning at Mississippi State. Nebraska already has fallen victim to one mid-major, losing at home to Western Illinois to open the season.
–Field Level Media
