Huskers Fall Short in Showdown Against Iowa

Lincoln, NE – January 13, 2024: Despite a spirited effort, the Nebraska men’s basketball team couldn’t sustain their recent success, falling 94-76 to Iowa in a high-scoring contest at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday night.

Key Performances and Game Dynamics: The Huskers (13-4, 3-3 Big Ten) saw commendable performances from Rienk Mast and Josiah Allick, both notching 14 points. However, Nebraska’s usual prowess from the 3-point line faltered, hitting only 4-of-26 attempts, a stark contrast to their season average. Iowa (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten), on the other hand, excelled from beyond the arc, sinking 15 3-pointers.

Nebraska initially battled back from an early 15-point deficit, even claiming a brief lead in the second half. But Iowa’s Ben Krikke’s surge, scoring 10 points in just over five minutes, shifted the momentum back to the Hawkeyes.

Individual Highlights:

• Rienk Mast shined with 6-of-9 shooting, contributing five rebounds.
• Josiah Allick’s season-high 14 points came on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting.
• Keisei Tominaga added 13 points to the Huskers’ tally.
• Freshman Eli Rice impressed off the bench with 11 points, his highest since early November.

Team Stats and Notables:

• The Huskers shot 47.6 percent overall but struggled significantly from the 3-point line.
• Iowa’s offensive firepower was on full display, shooting 52 percent overall and 30 assists on 35 field goals.
• Owen Freeman led Iowa with a dominant 22-point performance.
• Payton Sandfort and Josh Dix were lethal from the 3-point range, adding a significant edge to the Hawkeyes’ attack.

Postgame Reflections: Nebraska’s reliance on its 3-point shooting faced a tough night, contributing to the game’s outcome. The Huskers demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity but couldn’t maintain consistency against a determined Iowa team.

Looking Ahead: Nebraska now prepares to face Rutgers in an away game next Wednesday. The Huskers will look to rebound from this setback and regain their form in the competitive Big Ten conference. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (central), and fans can catch the action on BTN and the Huskers Radio Network.

Postgame Notes:

• Eli Rice’s performance marked the 14th time this season that a Nebraska bench player scored in double figures.
• This game marked only the second time this season that an opponent shot over 50 percent against the Huskers.
• The Huskers’ commitment to ball security was evident with just eight turnovers.

The Huskers will undoubtedly analyze this game and aim to refine their strategies, especially in 3-point shooting, as they continue their Big Ten campaign.

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