LINCOLN, Neb. - The Mavericks were down 66-64 with 37 seconds remaining but the Huskers made their last four free throws to hang on for a 70-65 exhibition win over Nebraska-Omaha Monday night at the Devaney Center. UNO was down by as much as 18 in the second half but kept Nebraska to 32 percent shooting in the second half to close the gap.
Ryan Curtis and
Denny Johnston led UNO with 12 points,
Jamaal Byers had 11 and
Calvin Kapels chipped in 10. Johnston's free throw with 37 seconds cut the gap to two, but UNO then missed two of three free throws and two field goals to finish the game.
The Mavericks led twice early in the first half and were down by five going into intermission. Nebraska shot 20 of 32 from the free throw line and held UNO to eight of 19 from the line to make the difference. UNO shot seven of 24 from beyond the three-point line with Byers making three of them.
The Mavericks, who finished ranked seventh in the nation last year, will kick off the regular season Friday against Presbyterian at the Disney Tip-Off Classic.
