COLLEGE PARK, MD. — Nebraska men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg likes to use a football term — “pick six” — to describe bad turnovers that lead to easy opponent baskets.
In their 82-63 loss at Maryland Saturday, the Huskers had their share of them, none uglier than one ending in Terrapin forward Donta Scott’s second-half alley-oop dunk. Maryland turned 15 NU giveaways into 20 points and dominated from the free throw line, making 24-26 from the charity stripe while Nebraska made 9-15.
That was more than enough to overcome a stunning, career performance from Hoiberg’s son, Sam, who made his first five shots and finished with 15 points, surpassing his season total. The 6-foot redshirt freshman walk-on got help from senior Derrick Walker — 16 points, eight rebounds — as the Huskers shot 53.3% from the floor.
For a third straight game, Nebraska’s defense didn’t fare so well without Juwan Gary and Emmanuel Bandoumel, who both had season-ending surgery last week. Maryland took apart NU’s trapping zone, hitting eight 3s and drawing fouls. Five Terps scored in double figures, led by guard Jahmir Young’s 18.
Until a costly technical foul on guard CJ Wilcher, NU (10-12, 3-8 Big Ten) at least stayed within striking distance.
Walker quickly shook off struggles against Northwestern by scoring eight of the Huskers’ first 10 points right at the rim. A Keisei Tominaga deep 3 gave NU a 13-8 lead with 14:08 left before Maryland, fueled by Nebraska turnovers, rattled off 10 straight points.
That’s when Sam Hoiberg checked in, hit a corner 3, a 15-foot pullup jumper, and two more corner 3s — all from the left side of the court — to keep Nebraska competitive against a team that made all 13 of its free throws in the first half. Maryland led 40-30 at the break.
NU held Maryland scoreless for more than three minutes to start the second half, but an 11-3 Terrapin run, executed over 3:03, forced a Fred Hoiberg timeout. A final Nebraska surge cut the lead to 59-50 after Wilhelm Breidenbach hit a 3 with 9:06 left.
On the ensuing possession, Wilcher was whistled for a foul on the Maryland’s baseline. He didn’t like the call, verbalized his feelings to an official, and was whistled for a T. Young made two free throws, and Scott made a 3. The Terrapins led 64-50 and were not seriously challenged after that.
Nebraska will fly Saturday night to Champaign, Ill., where it’ll practice, eat and stay in a hotel three days in preparation for a Tuesday night game against Illinois, which beat Wisconsin 61-51 on Saturday.
1
of 16
C.J. WILCHER
Position: Guard
Hometown: Plainfield, N.J.
SAM HOIBERG
Position: Guard
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
RAMEL LLOYD JR.
Position: Guard
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
JUWAN GARY
Position: Forward
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
SAM GRIESEL
Position: Guard
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
JAMARQUES LAWRENCE
Position: Guard
Hometown: Plainfield, N.J.
DENIM DAWSON
Position: Guard/Forward
Hometown: San Bernardino, Calif.
DERRICK WALKER
Position: Forward
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
BLAISE KEITA
Position: Forward
Hometown: Bamako, Republic of Mali
JEFFREY GRACE III
Position: Guard
Hometown: Elmhurst, Ill.
EMMANUEL BANDOUMEL
Position: Guard
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
KELSEI TOMINAGAI
Position: Guard
Hometown: Moriyama Nagoya Aichi, Japan
CALE JACOBSEN
Position: Guard
Hometown: Ashland, Neb.
WILHELM BREIDENBACH
Position: Forward
Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
OLEG KOJENETS
Position: Forward
Hometown: Kaunas, Lithuania
HENRY BURT
Position: Forward
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
1
of 16
C.J. WILCHER
Position: Guard
Hometown: Plainfield, N.J.
SAM HOIBERG
Position: Guard
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
RAMEL LLOYD JR.
Position: Guard
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
JUWAN GARY
Position: Forward
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
SAM GRIESEL
Position: Guard
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
JAMARQUES LAWRENCE
Position: Guard
Hometown: Plainfield, N.J.
DENIM DAWSON
Position: Guard/Forward
Hometown: San Bernardino, Calif.
DERRICK WALKER
Position: Forward
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
BLAISE KEITA
Position: Forward
Hometown: Bamako, Republic of Mali
JEFFREY GRACE III
Position: Guard
Hometown: Elmhurst, Ill.
EMMANUEL BANDOUMEL
Position: Guard
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
KELSEI TOMINAGAI
Position: Guard
Hometown: Moriyama Nagoya Aichi, Japan
CALE JACOBSEN
Position: Guard
Hometown: Ashland, Neb.
WILHELM BREIDENBACH
Position: Forward
Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
OLEG KOJENETS
Position: Forward
Hometown: Kaunas, Lithuania
HENRY BURT
Position: Forward
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
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