LINCOLN — Nebraska's leading scorer and second-leading rebounder from its two men's basketball exhibitions is out for the next 15 games.

That's not a surprise.

Freshman forward Christian Standhardinger, who had 17 points and seven rebounds against Arkansas-Fort Smith and added 18 points and seven rebounds in Tuesday's 71-39 win over Hastings College, will serve an NCAA-mandated penalty.

While in Germany, he played on a club team that used some players who were paid.

Even though Standhardinger received no more benefits than allowed, he was penalized for “vicarious professionalism'' and won't suit up again until the Huskers start Big 12 play Jan. 9 at Texas A&M.

Still, don't look for any down time for the 6-foot-8, 210-pounder over the next 60 days.

“He's got to be ready when we start league play,'' NU coach Doc Sadler said. “It's going to be difficult when he starts league play.

“It's going to be a whole different deal than what he's used to. But he'll be fine. He'll be ready.''

Former Nebraska basketball players Eric Piatkowski and Andy Markowski attended Tuesday night, and they praised Standhardinger as the type of scorer not seen recently on an NU roster.

Standhardinger's 35 points and 14 rebounds have come in 39 minutes of play. He is 11 of 18 from the field (61.1 percent) and 13 of 15 from the free-throw line (86.7 percent).

“He's got a knack for scoring the ball,'' Sadler said. “He's got a long, long, long, long, long way to go defensively.

“Christian brings tremendous energy and work ethic every day to practice. He's just got a lot of things to work on.''

And Standhardinger, who played through the flu Tuesday, knows it.

“I'm not excited about my game,'' he said. “There is a lot to improve. On the defensive end, like Coach said.

“On the offensive end, for me, there are shots I miss that are really getting on my nerves. But I try my best.''

Standhardinger said he will miss the motivation that comes from knowing game day is just a few practices away. NU begins the regular season Saturday night against South Carolina Upstate, the first of four games in 11 days.

“It's harder, but I will stay motivated,'' he said. “I've already got 15 games (marked) on my locker.

“I will work especially on my left hand, and I will talk to coach Rusty (strength coach Rusty Ruffcorn) and go often to the weight room because I don't think I'm strong enough to guard the four-men of the Big 12.''

Standhardinger was part of a makeshift starting lineup against Hastings, joining walk-on forward Ben Nelson, forward Toney McCray, guard Bear Jones and guard Brandon Richardson.

Sadler said he wanted some other players to experience the feel of starting.

That group provided a forgettable first five minutes, falling behind 5-0 and 11-4 while committing six turnovers and getting off just two field-goal attempts.

“I wasn't very excited about the way those guys played,'' Sadler said.

Hastings guard Waid Vontz scored 11 of his team-best 12 points in the first 12 minutes. The Huskers didn't take the lead until Richardson hit two free throws to make it 18-16 with 6:58 in the first half.

But by the end, Nebraska took leads as big as 34 points and finished with a field-goal shooting edge of 54.7 percent to 21.3 percent.

“Some things were better,'' Sadler said. “Transition defense I was happy. And we were a little better playing off of each other.''

NOTES: Freshman guard Ray Gallegos (pulled thigh muscle) didn't play and will sit out another day or two, then try to return for Saturday's game. ... Jorge Brian Diaz had eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

HASTINGS COLLEGE

FG FT RB PF A Min TP

McNurlin 0-7 0-0 3 4 0 24 0

Marvin 2-11 2-2 5 1 0 30 6

Slough 0-7 4-4 9 2 6 30 4

Vontz 4-13 1-2 4 1 1 30 12

Dossett 2-6 0-0 4 0 0 25 5

Olson 0-2 0-0 1 2 2 11 0

Cain 1-2 0-1 1 0 0 3 2

Walsh 0-1 0-0 1 0 0 1 0

Bacon 3-6 0-0 0 2 0 14 8

Halbmaier 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0

Wright 1-3 0-0 0 0 0 17 2

Ferguson 0-1 0-0 0 2 0 4 0

States 0-2 0-0 0 1 0 10 0

Totals 13-61 7-9 31 15 9 200 39

3-point shots (6-37) — McNurlin0-5, Marvin 0-5, Slough 0-4, Vontz 3-11, Dossett 1-3, Cain 0-1, Walsh 0-1, Bacon 2-5, Wright 0-1, Ferguson 0-1

Team rebounds —31. Turnovers — 21. Shot percent — 21.3.

NEBRASKA

FG FT RB PF A Min TP

Standhardinger 7-11 4-4 7 2 0 20 18

Nelson 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 8 0

Jones 2-4 0-0 1 0 2 17 5

Richardson 1-3 3-3 1 0 4 21 5

McCray 5-6 0-2 6 0 1 18 11

Holley 0-0 0-2 1 1 2 9 0

Henry 1-5 0-0 2 3 2 20 2

Karn 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0

Ubel 1-4 0-0 5 2 1 18 2

Diaz 4-6 0-0 9 1 1 15 8

Hankins-Cole 2-5 1-2 0 1 0 9 5

Coleman 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 6 0

Fox 1-1 0-0 2 0 0 2 2

Jeter 4-6 1-1 3 1 2 21 10

Anderson 1-1 0-0 3 2 3 14 3

Totals 29-53 9-14 43 15 18 200 71

3-point shots (4-13) — Standhardinger 0-2, Jones 1-3, McCray 1-1, Henry 0-1, Ubel 0-2, Coleman 0-1, Jeter 1-2, Anderson 1-1.

Team rebounds —43. Turnovers— 22. Shot percent — 54.7.

Hastings College 2118—39

At Nebraska 2843—71

Officials: John Higgins, Kipp Kissinger, Trent Lovewell. Technicals: None. Attendance: 5,056.

Big signee

Nebraska expects to sign 6-foot-10, 315-pound center Andre Almeida to a letter of intent this week.

The Brazilian, who has played on his country's national team under Husker assistant Walter Roese, is in his second season at Arizona Western College in Yuma.

Almeida, as a freshman, was the conference player of the year, and has been tabbed as a preseason first-team All-American by various recruiting services. In Arizona Western's opener, Almeida had 11 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Huskers also have an oral commitment from 6-1 point guard Kenyon MacNeill of Conway, Ark. But MacNeill doesn't plan to sign until April.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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