Nebraska uses hot start to defeat North Texas 86-67 (Nov 13, 2017)
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) James Palmer, Jr. scored 18 points and Nebraska raced out to an early 23 point lead and downed North Texas 86-67 on Monday night.
Nebraska (2-0) came out hot, hitting eight of its first 10 shots, four of them 3-pointers, and making all three of its free throws to take a 25-2 lead on Jack McVeigh’s dunk throws with 11:52 remaining in the first half.
North Texas (1-1) made just two field goals in the first 10 minutes of the game against a stifling Nebraska defense. The Mean Green had just four baskets in the first 16 minutes while Nebraska had six blocked shots. The Mean Green fell behind 44-16 after Evan Taylor’s free throws with 3:29 left in the half, then used a late surge to cut the halftime margin to 52-30.
Nebraska cooled off after intermission, scoring just seven points in the first seven minutes of the period and hitting just 8 of 32 shots in the half. But North Texas could get no closer than 17 as Nebraska hit 17 of its 24 second half free throws. The Huskers were 33 of 45 from the line for the game. North Texas committed 34 fouls.
Glynn Watson, Jr. had 15 points for Nebraska. Taylor added 12, 10 of them from the free throw line. Isaiah Roby had 11 points and McVeigh 10 points for the Huskers.
Shane Temara had 16 points to lead North Texas. Ryan Woolridge had 14 points and DJ Draper and Allante Holston had 10 each for the Mean Green.
BIG PICTURE
North Texas: The Mean Green, playing its first season under coach Grant McCasland, is one of the youngest teams in the NCAA with just one senior on its roster. North Texas has nine freshmen or sophomores, including four of Monday’s starter.
Nebraska: All 12 of its scholarship players saw action in the first half, including Thorir Thorbjarnarson. The 6-5 Reykjavik native is the only Icelander on an NCAA Division 1 roster this season.
UP NEXT
North Texas: The Mean Green returns home to face Bethune-Cookman on Thursday.
Nebraska: The Huskers go to New York to play St. John’s on Thursday as part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games.
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