IU basketball: Nebraska 85 Indiana 68 — Three keys, highlights, final stats

Indiana lost to Nebraska on Friday evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. by a final score of 85-68.

Nebraska led 44-41 at halftime. The Hoosiers were led in the game by Myles Rice with 20 points. Malik Reneau added 12.

The three keys to the game, highlights and final stats are below.

For Mike Woodson and Myles Rice postgame, GO HERE.

Indiana (8-3, 1-1) will have the week off before hosting Chattanooga next Saturday.

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Not enough stops. Indiana was able to force some Nebraska turnovers. 14 to be precise. But when the Huskers got shots out of their possessions, they were falling all night. Nebraska started the game 7-of-7 from the field and finished at 61.2% overall including 57.1% from three. The Huskers made some tough shots, but good defense or bad, the shots just kept falling, making it difficult for the Hoosiers to keep pace.

2. Second half shooting, no inside game. Nebraska had extra helpers in the paint to take away Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo. They only took a combined nine two-point shots for the game. With so much attention down low, the Huskers dared Indiana to shoot threes. And it paid off. The Hoosiers hoisted a season-high 35 shots from deep, and made just eight, good for just 22.5%. IU made just one of their last 18 shots to finish the game. It was tied at 62 with 10 minutes left, but Nebraska closed on a 23-6 run.

3. Brice Williams a tough cover. Nebraska wing Brice Williams is a modern three-level scorer, and Indiana never found an answer to stop him. Williams got Mackenzie Mgbako in early foul trouble and took him out of the game. That contributed to IU’s poor shooting night as Mgbako, their best 3-point shooter, only played 13 minutes. Williams ended up with 30 points and scored in every way — in the paint, from the mid-range, from three, and from the free throw line. Indiana often had a hand in his face, but it didn’t seem to matter on this night.

HIGHLIGHTS