Against the Cornhuskers on Sunday in Lincoln, Neb., the Jayhawks fell victim to the same problem they ran into Monday against the Oklahoma State Cowboys – hot shooting.
Nebraska hit 27 of 48 shots, including 23 of its first 38 field-goal attempts and 17 of 27 in the second half, in a 74-55 victory. The Cornhuskers, who were 8-of-16 shooting from long range, picked up their first win over the Jayhawks since Feb. 10, 1999.
The Jayhawks (15-6 overall, 7-3 Big 12 Conference) hit just 21 of 57 shots, and just five of 18 three-point attempts. KU’s 55 points were the fewest this season.
Michael Lee started in place of J.R. Giddens, who is suffering from a sore left foot. Jeff Graves did not suiting up because KU can only have 15 suited players on the road, coach Bill Self said. Self did not indicate before the game if there were disciplinary reasons involved.
The roster changes didn’t affect the Jayhawks early, as KU ran off to a 12-6 lead in the first four minutes. Nebraska (14-7, 4-6) stormed back over the next eight and a half minutes, taking a 20-15 lead with an 11-0 run.
Self tried a variety of lineups to get something working, including playing Omar Wilkes, Moulaye Niang and walk-on Stephen Vinson at the same time.
Keith Langford finally ended Nebraska’s run with a jumper, but John Turek answered with a pair of free throws. Aaron Miles then scored five straight points, tying the game at 22-all, and the teams battled to a 28-27 KU lead at halftime.
Nebraska regained the lead with two three-pointers early in the second half, and gained another advantage when Wayne Simien left the game two minutes into the second half after apparently reinjuring his groin, but he quickly returned.
  WIBW video: Nebraska fierce at home Hear Bill: KU-NU postgame comments See the photos: KU-Nebraska Get the stats: KU-Nebraska box score |
Simien’s presence didn’t matter much, though, as the Cornhuskers extended their lead to 18 points, 58-40, 11 minutes into the second half, including an 11-0 run. Simien again left the game with just less than eight minutes remaining, but again returned a short time later.
The Cornhuskers led by as many as 20 points, 72-52, before KU closed the gap by a point in the final minute.
Simien had 17 points for KU, and Langford scored 14 points. Aaron Miles has seven points, and Michael Lee had three points.
David Padgett had five points and Lincoln native Nick Bahe hit two three-pointers.
Andrew Drevo scored 14 points for Nebraska, and Nate Johnson had 14 points. Brian Conklin scored nine points, Jake Muhleisen had eight points, and Turek scored 14 points.
Charles Richardson had 10 points, John Dourisseau scored two points, and Marcus Neal Jr. had three points. Shaun Stegall hit a late basket.
Nebraska was a perfect 12-of-12 shooting from the foul line, and KU was 8-of-13 shooting from the charity stripe.
All stats are unofficial.
