The last time IU Coach Tom Crean’s team as in Lincoln, Nebr., IU owned a healthy halftime lead only to see it evaporate in the second half in a five-point loss.
Today, his club has a second chance.
IU leads Nebraska 40-32 at halftime in what has been a dominant first half for the Hoosiers. Nebraska closed the half on a 10-2 run.
The game was tied 8-8 just under four minutes into the first half, but then IU exploded for a 28-12 run through the midst of the half to establish a healthy lead. At one point, the Cornhuskers went 5:30 without a score.
Behind the scoring outburst for IU was its ability to control the boards. The Hoosiers outrebounded the Cornhuskers 26-14. Nebraska didn’t grab an offensive rebound until 18 minutes had passed.
Behind 3 of those rebounds was freshman forward Emmitt Holt.
Holt checked in early for junior forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea who picked up a pair of early fouls and immediately impacted the game with six quick points.
He finished the half with six points, three rebounds and a block.
Nebraska did emphasize limiting junior guard Yogi Ferrell, which it did have some success with. Ferrell was regularly double teamed and was held to three points off of only four shots
Seven different Hoosiers have scored, led by sophomore forward Troy Williams and freshman guard Rob Johnson who both have nine points.
IU led by 16 at halftime last year in Nebraska before ultimately losing.
Sam Beishuizen
