Juwan Gary, Brice Williams come up big as Nebraska cruises past Fairleigh Dickinson to improve to 3-0
Two of Nebraska’s most battle-tested basketball players came through Wednesday night when the Huskers needed them most.
With Fairleigh Dickinson down by only nine points with 11 minutes remaining in the game, Nebraska’s Juwan Gary and Brice Williams took control of the situation, and the Huskers ultimately cruised to an 86-60 win at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Down by 20 at halftime, FDU (1-3) cut Nebraska’s lead to 58-49 with 11 minutes to go. But Williams then scored or assisted on the Huskers’ next seven points, and Gary finished his team’s 13-2 surge with two free throws followed by a conventional three-point play to push NU’s lead to 71-51.
Order was restored, and FDU never seriously threatened thereafter.
Gary, a 6-foot-6 senior, finished with a game-high 19 points, and the 6-7 Williams, also a senior, wound up with 10.
Nebraska’s three-point shooting woes continued — it was only 7-for-28 (25%) — but the Huskers won the rebounding battle 43-31 and forced 17 turnovers while committing only eight.
Even so, Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg likely was displeased with the way Nebraska broke from the halftime break. Fairleigh Dickinson had surges of 6-0 and 8-0 to draw to 52-39 at the first media timeout.
Williams attacks rim with force
After a bit of a sluggish start, Nebraska found some rhythm offensively to take a 45-25 halftime lead. The Huskers took their largest lead of the first half, 45-23, on walk-on Cale Jacobsen’s lay-in with 2:11 before halftime.
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Nebraska had a 22-12 rebounding advantage in the first half. Its offensive attack was balanced, with nine players getting in the scoring column. Gary led the way with 10 points at the break.
Ahron Ulis’ lay-in off an excellent feed from Sam Hoiberg gave Nebraska a 21-10 lead with 9:10 left in the first half. The basket capped a 10-0 run for the home team.
Nebraska began the game by going only 2-for-6 from field but hit seven of its first eight foul shots and led 11-7 at the first media timeout. Williams attacked rim with a one-handed dunk to highlight the early action.
Nebraska returns to action Sunday with a noon game against Saint Mary’s — a game that will be held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and televised on BTN.
