LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska wrapped up the non-conference portion of its season Tuesday with a 77-59 win over Southeastern Louisiana that gave the Huskers 12 non-league wins for just the third time in school history.
“Before we started if you’d have told me we’d be 12-3, I’d have told you I’d be happy with it,” said Nebraska coach Doc Sadler. “I think we played really well in a couple games. You’ve got to win your home games whether its non-conference or conference and this team has done that.”
Nebraska has won 12 games in non-conference play for the first time since the 1994-95 season. The Huskers open Big 12 conference play Saturday at Texas A&M.
Brandon Richardson led the Huskers with 15 points and Ryan Anderson added 14.
Nebraska led by 11 at half, 39-28, but saw Southeastern Louisiana (8-5) cut that lead to seven on back-to-back baskets to open the half. The Huskers countered with a 8-0 run that put them up 47-32 on Richardson’s free throws with 16:39 left.
The Lions responded with a 10-2 spurt that cut the Husker lead to seven on Gary Dixon’s 3-pointer with 13:15 remaining. Nebraska came back with an 16-6 run, going up 65-47 on Anderson’s 3-pointer with 5:40 left.
“At times I thought we did a really nice job on defense,” Sadler said. “At times in the second half, I think we completely lost our concentration and focus. Offensively, sometimes when you make shots it may look like you play a little better than you do.”
Southeastern Louisiana coach Jim Yarbrough praised Nebraska’s offense.
“They shot the ball so much better than I think they have all year long,” he said. “To see them as hot as they could be, it’s amazing. They scored 18 more points from 3-point range than they probably normally do. Give them all the credit in the world.”
Brandon Richardson, who led Nebraska with 15 points, said that like Sadler he was happy with the 12 non-conference wins and that he and his teammates were ready for conference play.
“We’d better be,” he said. “We’ve prepared ourselves to this point. Now it’s time to let the chips fall where they may.”
Damon Forest led the Lions with 12 points and Trent Hutchin finished with 11 points.
