After beginning with two home victories, Nebraska men’s basketball gave fans some hope in the early part of the season. They offered a bit more in a rough-and-tumble first half at St. John’s, after which the Huskers led 27-20.
For Nebraska’s sake, hopefully the remainder of this 2022-23 season will go better than the second half went Thursday night, as NU allowed 50 points to the Red Storm after the break in a 70-50 loss in Queens, New York.
Joel Soriano, the St. John’s center, dominated the Huskers down low in leading all players with 17 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocked shots. Illinois transfer guard Andre Curbelo also contributed game-bests, dishing out seven assists and nabbing four steals.
Husker sharpshooter Keisei Tominaga led NU with 15 points, including a 3-for-6 effort from beyond the arc. Alabama transfer Juwan Gary added 8 points, plus team highs in 11 boards and three steals.
NU did the job defensively in the first half, forcing ten turnovers and misfires on all ten of the Johnnies’ three-point attempts. On the offensive end, Tominaga led the way with eight first-half points, one of seven Huskers to score before half.
Then St. John’s exploded out of the locker room.
Having been held to 20 points in the first 20 minutes, it took St. John’s (4-0) just 7:38 to achieve 20 second-half points. The explosion started with an 18-3 Red Storm run, as NU trailed for the first time since 6-4 early in the first half.
That 18-3 run featured Nebraska (2-1) losing on both ends of the floor. The Huskers missed seven of their first eight shots and turned it over six times on offense, while giving up four offensive rebounds over the same stretch. By the time NU scored on consecutive second-half possessions, they were still down by double digits, 49-38, and they would never get closer.
Point guard Sam Greisel finished with six points, four rebounds, and four assists, but also eight costly turnovers. CJ Wilcher scored six, and Emmanuel Bandoumel and Denim Dawson added five apiece. 6-foot-11 center Blaise Keita started for the Big Red but went 0-for-3 from field and the line, managing five rebounds.
The Huskers return to Lincoln for a Sunday afternoon matchup at Pinnacle Bank Arena with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, who are 1-4 this season.