Stats & coverage � Box score

Dec. 14, 2002
 
Nebraska Shuts Down Gents in 68-45 Victory
 
Nebraska Head Coach Barry Collier
Opening comments
“I thought our team started out well with good intensity and lost it in the first half, but we came out like gangbusters in the second half and really established some aggressive play. The biggest thing was the fact we lost our edge in the first half after getting off to a good start. I thought we settled early for some perimeter shots and weren’t as patient, and we were careless with the basketball, which kind of continued in the second half.”

On the turnovers
“I think we got into a situation where we mishandled the ball, in part because of the drop in our intensity and focus. We weren’t even making clean catches at times, much less smart passes. I do thank that is the up-and-down nature of a young team, but we are going to have to get over that pretty quick.”

On the more consistent play of Andrew Drevo
“He is doing a very good job on the boards for us. Today was a game where we were wanting to go inside and weren’t looking for the three as much. Although I thought we settled a few times for that. Andrew is a very good passer and a consistent scoring option for us. That is something he is giving us right now.”

On not playing as well as we can
“We talked at halftime about how we had been in that position before, having not played as well as we want to two or three games this season. In each one of those we came back and closed and then ended up losing a couple of those. I think that our guys are to be congratulated for handling the second half the way they did. I thought that IPFW did a good job of breaking out, and it is kind of risky taking as many threes as they do, but it really neutralizes some of your quickness when they have as many guys shooting that perimeter they did.”

Forward John Turek
On getting the ball in the post
“We knew that they weren’t very deep in their post players. They only had a couple of guys that really were pretty good players in the post, so Coach said before the game we were going to try to get the ball inside quite a bit in the first half. We knew we could get them in foul trouble and get some guys out. We really worked the first 10 possessions to get the ball inside. I think every game we try to put the ball in the post. Tonight we did an extra good job of getting it in there.”

On the run in the second half
“I think it was huge for us just because at halftime we were only up by two and we were at home and we were playing a team that we would normally be beating pretty bad at halftime. I just thought our confidence was down quite a bit. We knew we needed to make a run to start the second half in order to set the pace for the rest of the game.”

Forward Andrew Drevo
On the surge in the last two games
“I don’t know. I just try to play hard and consistently crash the boards. I guess the way I can help this team the most is rebounding and I think I am starting to understand that a little bit more and I am making more of a conscious effort to give us consistent rebounding.”

On the first half
“We came out alright and got an early lead and then we let them back in and gave them some easy hoops and we relaxed. They really hung in there the first half. It took us a good effort at the start of the second half to start to pull away. I have to give them credit. They hung in their and played tough defense.

On what coach said at halftime
“Coach didn’t really have to say a whole lot. We knew what we had to do and where we were making our mistakes with turnovers. We gave up easy hoops. We knew we had to come out and put up a good effort.”

IPFW Head Coach Doug Noll
Overall thoughts about his team in this game:
“I was disappointed with the second half. We were tough and physical inside in the first period, but we didn't match the second half with the intensity of the first half. When you play a team at this level, especially as a first-year Division I team, you need to play tough and not get thrown around. If you don't play tough enough, a team like this will throw you around and they did that to us tonight.

On Nebraska's performance tonight:
“Nebraska didn't let up. With a team like this we got close, but didn't get it done. I'm sure Barry (Collier) talked to them a little more at the half. They came out with great intensity in the second half.

On Nebraska being able to do well this season
“They have great size and are physical with a quick perimeter. If they stay the course and play together while using each other and don't care who gets the credit, they will do well this year.

Nebraska postgame notes:
** The win marked the third straight home victory for the Huskers this season, and 10th in their last 11 non-conference games.

** All four of Nebraska’s victories this season have been by at least 16 points.

** Nebraska has held three opponents to 55 or fewer points this season, including two under 50 (Centenary, 45; IPFW, 46)

** Nebraska hit better than 40.0 percent for the second straight game and fourth time this season.

** Nebraska held its sixth opponent in seven games to under 40 percent shooting from the floor, as IPFW hit just 27.0 percent, including 20.0 percent in the second half. It was also the second time this year that NU held an opponent to under 30.0 percent shooting.

** Sophomore forward John Turek tied his season high with 10 points in the first 7:50 of the contest. Turek went on to set a new season high with 18 points. Turek had recorded double-figure points only once this season, and only once at home in his career prior to tonight.

** With 11 rebounds, it marked Turek’s first career double-double and the second time this season he recorded double-figure rebounds. Turek also had 16 rebounds on the road at South Florida.

** Turek had three blocked shots in the first half and added one in the second to increase his team lead to 16 this season. Turek has had 12 blocked shots in the past four games.

** Freshman guard Jason Dourisseau had a season-high two assists, after recording just two assists in his first six games. He added a season-high two steals, after collecting just two all season, and added his first career blocked shot.

** Junior forward Andrew Drevo recorded his second straight double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Last year, Nebraska had just three double-doubles on the season, with guard Brennon Clemmons recording a team-high two.

** Nebraska had a season-high 10 steals, setting a team-high for the second straight game.

** The Huskers outrebounded their opponent for the fifth time time this season, and fourth straight game, when it took a 45-34 advantage on the glass.

** The last time Nebraska had two players record double-doubles in the same game came on 2/14/01 at home against Kansas State when Kimani Ffriend had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Brian Conklin had 11 points and 17 rebounds.

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Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.