Nov. 03, 2010
 
Some bad luck does not stop a 75-43 exhibition win.
 
Lincoln. — Christian Standhardinger recorded a double-double and the Husker defense forced 25 turnovers, as the Nebraska men's basketball team kicked off the 2010-11 season with a 75-43 exhibition win over Peru State on Wednesday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Standhardinger posted game-high totals of 16 points and 10 rebounds, leading a trio of Huskers in double figures. Jorge Brian Diaz hit 6-of-8 from the field to add 13 points, while junior college transfer Andre Almeida was impressive in his NU debut, making five of his six shots to add 11 points, while also finishing with six rebounds and a game-high six assists.

The Huskers shot better than 46 percent for the game, while Peru State hit only 28.0 percent of its shots. Nebraska recorded 12 steals while forcing Peru State into committing more turnovers (25) than total shots made (22; 14 field goals, eight free throws). Devin Eighmey led the Bobcats with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the 3-point arc. The Huskers also held a decisive 45-29 rebounding edge over the smaller Peru State lineup.

Nebraska's defense was suffocating from the start, as the Huskers held the Bobcats scoreless for the first 7:57. During that stretch, NU recorded five steals and forced nine turnovers, as Peru State attempted only three shots.

Offensively, the Huskers missed their first five shots before Diaz made the first basket five minutes into the game. Nebraska made it 7-0 before a pair of free throws put Peru State on the board. The Huskers answered with back-to-back baskets to ignite a 9-0 run that pushed the lead to 16-2 with 8:53 remaining in the half.

Peru State snapped the run and hit its first shot on its next possession, before a Husker turnover and a Bobcat 3-pointer trimmed the lead to nine. After making three consecutive shots, Peru State missed its next nine attempts allowing Nebraska to pull away. The Huskers turned a 10-point lead with seven minutes remaining into a 42-15 halftime advantage by scoring 17 straight points and hitting their final six shots of the half, including a pair of 3-pointers.

In the opening half, Peru State had more turnovers (17) than points, while shooting just 18.2 percent. After starting 0-of-5 from the field, Nebraska hit 13 of its final 18 shots to shoot 56.5 percent in the first half.

Standhardinger scored six straight points for the Huskers to open the second half, as Nebraska stretched the lead to 32. The teams played even over the next eight minutes, as a 7-0 Peru State run made the score 65-34 with eight minutes remaining.

A 3-pointer at the 7:11 mark pulled the Bobcats within 30 for the first time in 10 minutes, but Standhardinger answered with three free throws to quickly push the lead back to 32. Nebraska led by at least 30 for the final five minutes.

Nebraska returns to action next Monday, Nov. 8, when the Huskers close exhibition play against Bellevue at the Devaney Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Notes: *-Nebraska improves to 48-18 all-time in exhibition games, including a 7-1 mark under Doc Sadler. *-Nebraska started Brandon Richardson, Christian Standhardinger, Brandon Ubel, Caleb Walker and Lance Jeter. Walker was the only newcomer in the starting lineup tonight. *-The Huskers held Peru State scoreless for the first 7:57 of the game and without a field goal for the first 11:25 of the half as NU built a 16-2 lead. *-Andre Almeida led Nebraska with six assists while adding 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and six rebounds. *-Christian Standhardinger's 10 rebounds exceeded his 2009-10 season high of eight rebounds at Iowa State last February.

Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler Opening Statement "Unfortunately, I thought that our big guys did a better job at containing penetration than our guards. We've worked really, really hard in that area, and we obviously have to continue. I thought we shared the ball pretty good. I know I was disappointed in our defensive rebounding from our guards. They have to do a much better job, and I thought they did in the second half. And free throw shooting; we have to continue to work on free throw shooting. Overall, for our first exhibition game, I was pleased."

On how well Diaz and Almeida played with each other I thought that they played well together. What I've been doing in practice is rotating a guy each day just to give them all an opportunity to play with each other. But they can score the basketball and anytime you can score the basketball close to the basket you got to be pretty happy about that.

Junior Center Andre Almeida On if it was good to play another team after all the practicing "Yes, and especially all the excitement about the game. Finally, the season is here. We're practicing hard, so we're looking forward to the next game."

On his progress since coming to Nebraska "I'm in better shape. I mean, I'm not saying I'm in good shape now, but it's a lot better than when I first got here. I've been working on getting in shape doing some cardio stuff every morning. And just the fact that I practice with so many talented guys, that makes me better."

On if he's worked on being a good passer "Since I was young and playing in Brazil, people were doubling on me every time, so I was always passing the ball. It's not something I've been working on, it just happened. Sometimes I'm passing even before I look at the basket, so it's something I have to work on."

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.