Nebraska will be going for its first three-game winning streak in two years when it hosts Tennessee State in a nonconference matchup on Tuesday night in Lincoln, Neb.
The Cornhuskers (3-2) play the sixth of seven straight games at home to start the season riding lopsided victories in the past two. The most recent was an 82-59 crushing of Southern on Sunday during which they were 23 of 28 on 2-point shots.
For the season, Nebraska is shooting 55.4 percent from inside the arc. The Cornhuskers were 48.2 percent from two-point range last season in finishing 7-20.
“You have to find a way to score in other ways,” coach Fred Hoiberg said after the Southern win. “And we did a much better job tonight than we have all year in that area.”
Tennessee State (1-3) comes to Lincoln after losing 83-66 at South Dakota on Sunday. The Tigers were outrebounded for the first time this season and allowed 49 free throw attempts.
Nebraska, which was 24 of 30 from the line against Southern, averages 17.6 foul shots per game.
The Cornhuskers are led by Bryce McGowens, who had his first career double-double against Southern and is averaging 16.8 points per game. He was 10 of 10 from the line on Sunday and is 27 of 31 for the season.
“You have to be able to get to the free throw line,” said McGowens, whose older brother, Trey McGowens, missed a second straight game after breaking his foot during the third game of the season.
Tennessee State has four players averaging double figures and shoots 48.7 percent from the field, while Nebraska has held four of five opponents below 40 percent from the field.
Tennessee State, from the Ohio Valley Conference, is looking for its first win over a major-conference team since beating South Carolina in 2011.
–Field Level Media
