LINCOLN (AP) After playing Iowa State to a 29-29 halftime tie, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler challenged his team to be more aggressive.
"That's what we talked about at halftime," he said. "We didn't talk about Xs and Os. ... I thought everybody was really, really aggressive and I saw some confidence out there."
Sek Henry scored seven points in the final 4 1/2 minutes, and Aleks Maric recorded his second double-double in as many games to give the Huskers a 64-56 victory over Iowa State for Nebraska's second conference win.
Maric had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Nebraska distanced itself with a key 15-6 second half run.
Henry said he and the other guards knew they needed to take pressure off Maric to get the win.
"We were known as a great defensive team. You've got to score points to win game," Henry said. "Playing defense is very good, but you've still got to score points."
Nebraska (13-6, 2-4 Big 12) began its spurt with a pair of Maric free throws to break a 40-40 tie. A driving layup by Henry and a 16-foot jumper made the score 55-46 with less than four minutes to play.
Iowa State (13-9, 3-4) cut the lead to 59-53 on Craig Brackin's 3-pointer with 52 seconds remaining, but could get no closer. The Huskers hit five of seven free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
Jiri Hubalick had 13 of his game-high 16 points in the tightly contested first half. The Cyclones led by five early its largest lead of the game.
Nebraska scored six straight to open the second half, capped by a Maric steal and dunk.
"That turned the tide of the whole game," Iowa State coach Greg McDermott said. "It really swayed the momentum in their favor."
"It's disappointing that we would come in here and turn it over 20 times and be that sloppy with the basketball," he said.
Henry and Ryan Anderson had 11 points each for the Huskers and Ade Dagunduro finished with 10. Brackins added 14 points for Iowa State.
The Cyclones were without leading scorer Wesley Johnson, who missed the game because of an ankle injury.
NEBRASKA 64, IOWA ST. 56
IOWA ST. (13-9)
Clark 3-7 0-0 7, Brackins 5-8 2-2 14, Hubalek 6-10 6-7 18, Garrett 2-8 2-2 6, Petersen 2-7 0-0 6, Lee 0-1 0-0 0, Haluska 1-3 0-0 2, Thompson 1-2 0-1 3, C.Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-46 10-12 56.
NEBRASKA (13-6)
Maric 5-10 4-4 14, Harley 2-11 4-4 8, Dagunduro 5-10 0-0 10, Miller 3-6 0-1 7, Anderson 3-5 3-4 11, Henry 4-7 3-6 11, Strowbridge 1-3 0-0 3, Velander 0-1 0-0 0, Balham 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 23-54 14-21 64.
HalftimeTied 29-29. 3-Point GoalsIowa St. 6-23 (Brackins 2-5, Petersen 2-6, Thompson 1-2, Clark 1-3, Hubalek 0-1, Haluska 0-1, Garrett 0-5), Nebraska 4-14 (Anderson 2-3, Strowbridge 1-2, Miller 1-4, Henry 0-2, Dagunduro 0-3). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsIowa St. 30 (Brackins, Hubalek 7), Nebraska 34 (Maric 13). AssistsIowa St. 11 (Brackins, Garrett 3), Nebraska 7 (Miller 4). Total FoulsIowa St. 20, Nebraska 15. A11,443.
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