COLLEGE PARK, MD —Nebraska has put together its best shooting night in Big Ten games this season, but Maryland was near perfect from the free throw line in an 82-63 win over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon.
The Huskers (10-12, 3-8 Big Ten) shot 53 percent from the field, their best night of shooting since Nov. 30, and put on strong performances Derrick Walker and Sam Hoiberg in a lost effort.
Walker finished with 16 points in 8-of-12 shooting and eight rebounds for a team-best 16 points, while Hoiberg had a career-high 15 points and eclipsed his entire season overall while competing. Hoiberg went 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, and helped keep the Huskers within striking distance until Maryland took control with a 12-2 run after NU pulled back to 59-50 was Wilhelm Breidenbach 3 hands with just over nine minutes remaining.
Maryland (14-7, 5-5 Big Ten) was held at 44 percent shooting but went off the foul line 24 of 26 and turned 15 Nebraska turnovers into 20 points. Jamhir Young led the hosts with 18 points, including 9 of 9 from the charity streak, while Donald Carey brought in 16 chips, including 4 of 4 from the 3-point range.
Nebraska was trailing 59-50 when CJ Wilcher was called for a technical foul. Young hit both free throws before Donta Scott’s 3-points on ensuing possession turned it into a 14-point cushion as the Terrapins eventually extended it to 71-52 after Young’s steal and Basket remained at 6-55, leaving Nebraska the deficit at 16 Zoll cut the final minutes but couldn’t get any closer.
Early on, Walker and Hoiberg kept the Huskers in contention as Maryland held a 13-1 advantage at the foul line in the first 20 minutes. Walker had eight early points as the Huskers took a 13-8 lead on a 3-poiter Keise Tominaga with 14:08 left in half. Maryland would respond with a 10 run of their own to put an 18-13 lead after Young’s 3-point game.
Hoiberg, who had just 13 points on Saturday, caught fire and scored 11 straight points for Nebraska, who were just 29-24 at 3:48 at the half. Maryland had one last run and scored seven of the next nine points to take a 36-26 lead on Patrick Emilien’s basket with just over two minutes at halftime, and the Terrapins went into the break with 10 points.
Maryland built a 51-36 lead before the Huskers made a run to get back in contention. NU used a 9-2 run to pull up to 53-45 and had a chance to get closer, but Sam Griesels A shot from a steal was blocked by Young and eventually converted in a putback by Hakim Hart to make a 55-45 game with 11:43 left. NU went 55-47 to a Hoiberg basket on eight and the game was tight until the technical foul and subsequent surge in Maryland.
Nebraska will continue its two-game road trip Tuesday when the Huskers travel to Illinois. The matchup tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. (mid) and will be broadcast on BTN and the Huskers radio network.
Post-game notes
*-Sam Hoiberg had a career-high for the second straight game with 15 points off the bench, including 3-3 3-pointers in a career-high 26 minutes. Hoiberg started the game with 13 points all season.
*-With Hoiberg’s performance on Saturday, Nebraska now had 10 players after double-digit games this season, including freshmen in back-to-back games (Dawson-NW; Hoiberg-MD).
*-Derrick Walker set a double-digit team record for the 13th time with 16 points in 8-of-12 shooting. Walker also led NU with eight rebounds.
*-With his eight rebounds today Derrick Walker went over 500 for his career. He now has 504 career rebounds.
*-Nebraska shot 53.3 percent from the floor today, the seventh time Nebraska has shot 50 percent from the field this season. It was also NU’s best night of shooting in Big Ten play (previous high was .508 in Minnesota). NU was 6-0 this season when he shot at least 50 percent.
*-Maryland set Nebraska’s opponent highs for free throws (24), attempts (26), and percentage (.923). Before today, the opponent-high for free throws taken against Nebraska this year was 16 at Purdue. Before the game, opponents shot .658 off the line in 2022-23 against Nebraska.
*-Before Saturday, Iowa was the last Husker opponent to shoot 90 percent with at least 25 free throw attempts, going off the line on Jan. 6, 2019 at 29:32.
