• Video: Nebraska coach Doc Sadler and Husker guard Brandon Richardson speak at the postgame press conference:

LINCOLN — The Nebraska basketball player who has fought through the most pain this season is playing at a new comfort level.

Sophomore guard Brandon Richardson scored in double figures for the fourth straight game Tuesday night, matching his career high of 15 points, to lead the Huskers to a 77-59 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

The fifth-smallest crowd in Devaney Center history (4,516) saw NU wrap up nonconference play 12-3, the best such record in 15 seasons.

“Before we started," coach Doc Sadler said, “if you had told me we would be 12-3, I'd have told you I'd be happy with it.

“I don't know if there are any of the three games we lost that we deserved to win. And we played really well in a couple of games, against USC on the road and against Tulsa at a neutral site."

One player making increasing contributions is Richardson.

The 6-footer from Los Angeles, who had scored in double figures just four times in his first 36 games as a Husker, has scored 13, 10, 10 and 15 points in the past four. He also is hitting 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 82.1 percent from the free-throw line.

“He's shooting the ball better and looking to shoot," Sadler said. “And he's playing with more confidence."

Richardson also is playing with pain.

Besides back spasms caused by some misalignment of his hips, he suffered a severe back bruise that has forced him to sit out two games.

“It's been a struggle, every day, just hoping I can make it through without getting pain in my back," he said. “Especially because I wasn't practicing at some points, and I wasn't able to compete with my teammates.

“As of now, I'm feeling much better with the treatment and all the exercises I've been doing. So I'm feeling pretty good."

Richardson was a smooth operator against Southeastern Louisiana (8-5).

He made 3 of 4 3-pointers and added a slashing layup for 11 first-half points to help Nebraska take a 39-28 lead.

Southeastern Louisiana closed to seven points early in the second half, but Richardson hit two free throws and added an assist to help get the Husker lead safely back into double figures.

“Each game," he said, “it's like I add more confidence to my game and feel more comfortable with my teammates.

“Coach is looking for guys to compete. If you're worried about minutes, you're worried about the wrong thing. The team goal is to win."

Nebraska forced 20 turnovers and committed just six against an athletic Southeastern Louisiana team that has played well this season against LSU and Mississippi State.

NU hit 12 of 19 3-pointers (63.2 percent), but the Lions shot a better overall percentage (.480 to .458), leading to some concern from Sadler.

“At times, I thought we did a really nice job with our defense," he said. “But a lot of times in the second half, we completely lost our focus and concentration. That's something that we must understand.

“Starting Saturday, if you lose concentration for two minutes, you're going to lose the game."

Saturday at 3 p.m. is the Big 12 opener at Texas A&M (11-3), which is receiving votes in both Top 25s.

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (8-5)

Player, FG, FT, RB, PF, A, Min, TP

Tibbs, 2-3, 0-0, 2, 3, 1, 23, 5

Sullivan, 4-6, 0-2, 5, 3, 2, 30, 8

Patterson, 0-1, 0-0, 4, 3, 2, 21, 0

Forest, 5-9, 0-0, 6, 2, 1, 26, 12

Dixon, 3-11, 0-0, 1, 2, 0, 34, 8

Hutchin, 4-9, 0-0, 1, 1, 2, 23, 11

Jones, 4-7, 0-0, 3, 2, 1, 12, 9

Marks, 1-2, 0-0, 3, 1, 2, 18, 2

Johnson, 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0

Burches, 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 0

Ndoumba, 1-1, 2-3, 3, 1, 0, 11, 4

Totals, 24-50, 2-5, 30, 18, 11, 202, 59

3-point shots (9-25) — Tibbs 1-1, Patterson 0-1, Forest 2-4, Dixon 2-9, Hutchin 3-6, Jones 1-4.

Team rebounds — 1. Turnovers — 20. Shot percent — 48.0.

NEBRASKA (12-3)

Player, FG, FT, RB, PF, A, Min, TP

Diaz, 3-4, 0-0, 4, 0, 3, 19, 6

Richardson, 5-10, 2-2, 2, 0, 3, 28, 15

Henry, 2-6, 1-2, 3, 3, 1, 18, 7

Jeter, 2-6, 0-0, 3, 0, 6, 28, 4

Anderson, 5-9, 1-2, 5, 3, 1, 19, 14

Joens, 1-5, 0-0, 2, 0, 3, 21, 3

Holley, 2-3, 2-2, 3, 0, 0, 13, 6

Karn, 1-1, 0-0, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3

Ubel, 2-6, 4-4, 2, 0, 0, 17, 9

Gallegos, 2-3, 0-0, 1, 0, 1, 15, 5

Hankins-Cole, 1-4, 1-4, 3, 1, 0, 10, 3

Fox, 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0, 0, 3, 0

Nelson, 1-1, 0-0, 0, 1, 0, 3, 2

Totals, 27-59, 11-16, 33, 9, 19, 197, 77

3-point shots (12-19) — Richardson 3-4, Henry 2-4, Anderson 3-4, Jones 1-4, Karn 1-1, Ubel 1-1, Gallegos 1-1.

Team rebounds — 4. Turnovers — 6. Shot percent — 45.8.

Southeastern Louisiana.......................28 31—59
At Nebraska............................................39 38—77

A — 4,516. Officials — Paul Janssen, Gary Maxwell, Randy Heimerman.

• NOTES: Husker point guard Lance Jeter has 29 assists and six turnovers in his past six games. ... Southeastern Louisiana blocked six shots. ... NU's three post players combined for nine rebounds in 47 minutes.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share