Blog Entry
BYU spanks Nebraska 88-66
December 24, 2009 by Bret Nellor, under Husker Basketball Game Recaps, News.
BYU jumped on Nebraska from the start and cruised to an easy win 88-66 to take the Las Vegas Classic Championship. The Cougars built a 32 point lead in the first half to seal this game early.
NU falls to 9-3 on the season with this loss. With Ryan Anderson sitting this game out with a foot injury sustained in yesterday’s win over Tulsa, Nebraska had no answer for BYU. The Huskers were led by Eshaunte “Bear” Jones who finished with 21 points on 5-7 3-point shooting. Brandon Richardson also came off the bench to add 13 points. Jimmer Fredette poured in 24 points and Jackson Emery added 23 points in the win for the Cougars.
Turning point in the game:
- Unfortunately this game was over nearly as soon as it started. Nebraska came out flat and could not match BYU’s intensity or effort. They allowed the Cougars to grab a 37-5 lead by the 8:45 mark of the first half.
Encouraging points:
- Eshaunte Jones had real nice game off the bench. He shot the ball very well form behind the arc, hit 4-4 free throws and added 3 rebounds. He led the team in scoring for the second straight game and has now had a couple of good games where he comes off the bench to provide a good spark offensively for this team. The key issue for him is can he stay healthy for the duration of the season.
Doc Sadler can use this game as a wake-up call for the younger players on this team about the importance of being prepared to play well and matching the opponent’s intensity. The margin for error is thin for this team, and when they don’t bring their best effort this is what can happen.
With his absence, it was apparent how important Ryan Anderson is for this team. His senior leadership provides a calming effect. He also steps up and makes senior plays such as a big shot, rebound, steal, or taking a charge. All those things were missed tonight.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Eshaunte “Bear” Jones
Up next: Nebraska will enjoy 6 days off before facing Southern Utah at home.
