• Box Score: Iowa State 78, Nebraska 74

• Photo Showcase: Iowa State 78, Nebraska 74

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AMES, Iowa — Yes, the Nebraska men lost another basketball game Wednesday night, but they discovered a badly needed offensive weapon in the process.

Freshman Christian Standhardinger, in his first career start, led all scorers with 25 points in NU's 78-74 setback at Iowa State. His point total is believed to be the best in Husker history by a freshman in his first start.

The 6-foot-8 forward from Munich, Germany, quadrupled his average of 6.3 points and smashed his previous career high of 14 versus Colorado. He also had eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in his 34 minutes.

Those numbers meant little to Standhardinger, though, after a seventh straight loss dropped Nebraska (13-15, 1-12) deeper into the Big 12 cellar.

“It would be better if I had zero points, zero rebounds, zero steals and we would win the game,” he said. “At the end, it's always about winning and losing. And we just lost again.”

Study the final box score and it’s a bit difficult to see how Iowa State (14-14, 3-10) broke its six-game losing skid.

Nebraska outshot the Cyclones from the field and the 3-point line while committing just one more turnover. Standhardinger and point guard Lance Jeter (21) posted career scoring highs, and Ryan Anderson had a career-high seven assists with no turnovers.

What the Huskers didn’t have, though, was an All-Big 12 selection and likely first-round NBA draft pick named Craig Brackins.

The 6-10 junior scored 11 of his 21 points in the final 5:47. His 3-pointer put the Cyclones up 61-59 after they had trailed earlier in the second half by 10. They never fell behind again.

“He’s a guy we kept in check for 36 minutes, and then he goes and makes the plays,” NU coach Doc Sadler said.

Brackins, who also had 10 rebounds, added put-back baskets on two of the three possessions after his 3.

Then with 3:02 to play, he nearly caused the fans at Hilton Coliseum to go crazy.

Point guard Diante Garrett’s 30-foot lob pass appeared headed for the line of cheerleaders beyond the baseline. But Brackins speared the ball with one hand and dunked it in one motion for a 69-65 lead.

Had Brackins ever jumped that high?

“I have before,” he said. “I’m getting kind of old, though, so I didn’t think I had it in me.”

Sadler said Brackins’ star power at the end made the difference.

“In the last four minutes, what’d he get, 10 or 12 points?” Sadler asked. “That’s what a go-to guy is supposed to do. That’s what they have, and we don’t.”

Standhardinger might start filling that role.

He had 14 points and five rebounds in the first half as Nebraska rolled to a 41-34 halftime lead. His two free throws and a dunk on back-to-back possessions in the second half put NU up 59-53 with 7:38 to go.

“Christian tries so hard that sometimes it hurts him,” Sadler said. “He has to learn to be more patient — I’m not talking about offense, just his patience on the court.

“He is a guy who can score baskets for you. He’s going to continue to play these kinds of minutes as long as he doesn’t get in foul trouble.”

Then Sadler looked at the stat sheet a second time, and shook his head after seeing how most numbers favored Nebraska except the final score.

“That’s been the case in several games,” he said. “That’s why it’s so hard to go into the locker room with those guys.”

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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