Dec. 18, 2010
 
Huskers cruise to 7th win.
 
Lincoln. — Sophomore Brian Jorge Diaz led 11 Huskers in the scoring column with a game-high 14 points as Nebraska held Eastern Washington (3-7) to 21 percent shooting from the field in a 72-43 win Saturday evening at the Devaney Center.

With the victory, the Huskers (9-2) won their seventh straight game and have not dropped a contest since Nov. 19. It matches the Huskers' longest win streak in the Big 12 era, which was set during the 1997-98 campaign.

The 11 scoring Huskers marked the third straight game that NU has had at least 10 players with points. Diaz finished in double figures for the sixth time this season and is averaging a team-high 10.5 points per game in 2010-11. The Caguas, Puerto Rico native scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half on 5-of-6 shooting, as he led the Huskers to a 33-22 halftime lead.

Nebraska shot 50 percent for the game (28-of-56), including 54 percent shooting (15-of-28) in the second half when the Huskers outscored the Eagles, 39-20. Eastern Washington struggled offensively against NU's defense and connected on just 12-of-57 attempts from the field for a season-low 21 percent shooting. It was the lowest shooting percentage by a Husker opponent since the 2002-03 season.

Saturday was a night of firsts for the Huskers, as senior transfer Drake Beranek earned his first career start, while sophomore center Christopher Niemann made his first appearance in a Husker uniform after coming back from two ACL surgeries. Beranek had five points and three rebounds, while Niemann had a bucket with five minutes remaining to give NU a 57-36 lead.

NU extended its 11-point halftime lead to 47-26 just eight minutes into second half as the Huskers held Eastern Washington without a point for five minutes. The Eagles scored just seven points in the first 13 minutes of the second half and shot just 3-of-20 during that stretch. Sophomore guard Ray Gallegos led the burst by scoring all nine of his points in the final 20 minutes.

Nebraska's 39-point second half was a significant turnaround after a slow start to game. The Huskers hit just 1-of-5 field goals to open the contest, while EWU was 1-of-6. Nebraska did not get on the board until four minutes into the game when Lance Jeter went coast-to-coast to tie the contest 2-2 and kick start a 12-3 run. Diaz scored five of next seven points to put NU ahead 9-5, followed by an Eshaunte Jones 3-pointer to make 12-5.

The Huskers used a 9-0 run later in the half to build its double-digit advantage, capped by a Beranek 3-pointer to give NU a 25-14 lead. Jeter would add another trey with 49 seconds left in the first half, as he finished with 11 points. The senior guard was joined by a third Husker in double figures, as junior guard Caleb Walker added 10.

Nebraska looks to continue its winning streak with its last game before Christmas next Tuesday against Grambling. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Nebraska Game Notes

*-With tonight's win, the Huskers have won seven straight games for the first time since the 1997-98 season, and have matched the program's longest winning streak in the Big 12 era.

*-Nebraska has held seven straight opponents to under 60 points for the first time since the 1981-82 season. NU has now held nine of 11 opponents to under 60 points this season.

*-Eastern Washington's 42 points against NU is a season low, as their previous 2010-11 low was 54 points against Boise State on Nov. 24. EWU entered Saturday's game averaging 75 points per game in nine contests.

*-Eastern Washington's 21.1 shooting percentage is the lowest by a Husker opponent in Doc Sadler's five seasons as NU's head coach. The previous low was 24.2 percent by Chicago State on Dec. 10, 2009. The Eagles' previous low this season was 34 percent at Gonzaga on Nov. 30.

*-Toney McCray's 11 rebounds is a career high, topping his 10 rebound effort against TCU last Saturday. It is his second straight game with at least 10 rebounds.

*-Nebraska started Brandon Richardson, Lance Jeter, Drake Beranek, Brandon Ubel and Jorge Brian Diaz. It marked Beranek's first start at the Division I level and the fifth starting lineup for the Huskers this season.

*-Jorge Brian Diaz reached double figures for third straight game with his 14 -point effort against Eastern Washington. Diaz had 12 of his points in the first half, hitting 5-of-6 shots from the floor.

*-Nebraska had 11 players in the scoring column tonight, including sophomore Christopher Niemann, who made his Husker debut. Niemann had two points and a rebound in seven minutes in the second half.

*-Nebraska shot 50 percent for the sixth time in 11 games and the fifth time in its current seven game win streak.

Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler On the game "First of all, I think starting off you have to talk about our defense with the exception of offensive rebounds, I thought that defensively we really defended their perimeter guys as well as you could defend them. We did a nice job of keeping them in front of us. I think if you look back, on four occasions we had shutouts and they ended up getting baskets off the shutouts off offensive rebounds. That's something we can't continue, not that we can't continue to do it, we can't do it and we haven't been doing it. That's one area we have to get more consistent with. Overall, I think with a week of finals you're talking about a team (Eastern Washington) that has been averaging 75 points a game and played some good people; they played some awfully good people. To hold them to 42 points is a credit to our guys."

On Christopher Niemann "It was good to see Christopher get a few minutes. I told the team afterwards, I can't imagine what he's gone through the few years that he's been here and it's good to see him get out there and play. Overall, for a game that is coming out of finals I think you have to be pretty happy about it."

Sophomore Center Jorge Brian Diaz On if he thinks they are getting in a rhythm offensively "I think so, especially tonight we had a really big advantage inside. We were trying to get it inside and if that didn't work, we would kick it out. We are getting more comfortable with the offense and getting in a rhythm and everything is just flowing right."

On how he felt about Christopher Niemann "I was really happy for him. He has been through something really tough, getting out of two injuries. He is getting back and fighting through it and I'm happy that he is back with us going forward."

On how much of an impact it is having three big players "I think all of us bring something different. I think it's a great advantage having big guys that can score down low and open up for the guards. The rebounds help, too."

Sophomore Center Christopher Niemann On if he was nervous for today's game "I was prepared but I was nervous before the game."

On if he thought this day would ever come "Yeah. If I didn't think this day would ever come, it wouldn't be worth going through everything that I've been through."

On how tough the last three years have been "It's tough, but you learn something and get something out of it. It's not the best way to get something, but I've learned from all of the situations I've been in. Everyone that has supported me - trainers, coaches, players - were behind me the whole time, so that made it easier."

On if he takes satisfaction from being a physical player "That's my kind of play. I didn't have much time, so I didn't have to worry about getting five fouls."

On how close he is to being in game shape "I'm not too far away. I'm definitely not there yet, but we will just take it slow."

Eastern Washington Head Coach Kirk Earlywine On the game "I thought we played hard defensively. We caused them some problems with our pressure, but it was the same old story. Our turnovers continue to be a problem. We were down 11 at halftime and they had 11 points off of turnovers."

On if feeling of losing is enough to help team improve "We'll find out. We've shown them on video. We've discussed it. I've stomped and yelled and cussed and screamed. I've pushed all buttons I can push. I'm not asking anybody to do something they're not capable of doing. All I'm asking them to do is not throw the ball away."

On the South Dakota game Monday "We'll look at South Dakota and see what they do. It's a good dame to play on one day preparation because they don't run a lot of complex sets. But we have to stop turning the ball over.

On if the practices after Christmas break are more important than South Dakota game "We need to play well Monday at South Dakota. Right now, on Dec. 18, I would say the Dec. 20 game is more important than practice on Dec. 26, (but) those practices when we come back from Christmas break are huge. Then the practices after the first conference games are huge for us."

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.