Nebraska vs. Rutgers Postgame Notes/Quotes

Nebraska Postgame Notes

• Bryce McGowens tied his career high with 29 points, matching Shavon Shields (1/19/13 at Penn State) for the most points ever scored by a Husker freshman in a conference game. McGowens’ 29 points were one shy of the Nebraska freshman scoring record of 30 points, set by Tyronn Lue on Nov. 25, 1995 against Oregon.
• McGowens produced his third straight 20-point game. He is the first Husker to have three consecutive 20-point games since James Palmer Jr. in 2019. McGowens is the first Nebraska freshman to have three straight 20-point performances since at least the 1982-83 season.
  McGowens scored his 29 points on just 17 shots, as he was 14-of-18 from the free throw line. His 14 free throws and 18 attempts were both career highs, while McGowens had his third game of the season with at least 10 made free throws. McGowen’s 14 free throws were one shy of the Pinnacle Bank Arena record (15 by Shavon Shields against Illinois on Feb. 12, 2014), and McGowen’s 18 attempts were also one shy of the PBA record (19 by Terran Petteway against Penn State on Feb. 20, 2014).
• Trey McGowens was the only other Husker in double figures with a season-high 11 points, including eight after halftime.
• Lat Mayen had a season-high three assists, and he tied his season high with eight rebounds while adding five points.
• Nebraska held Rutgers to 3-of-19 shooting from the 3-point line. The Scarlet Knights entered the game with the top team 3-point shooting percentage in Big Ten Conference play this season.
• The Huskers had six blocks in the game, tying their season high (also against Sam Houston on Nov. 12).
• Nebraska’s 21 free throws were its most in a Big Ten game this season and marked the fourth time overall that the Huskers have made at least 20 free throws in a game.

Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg
On what he saw from his offense down the stretch:
“Obviously it was a very difficult stretch for us. They made some good plays on drives to the basket. When we got the ball to the middle of the court, we had some success with the pick and roll. We found Derrick on one which got Trey the open 3-pointer in the corner with I think about four and a half minutes left. He hit that one and that was unfortunately our last basket going down the stretch. We’ve got to find a way to finish one of these games and get the confidence to know we can do it. We had a lot of good things out there to give ourselves a chance to win a game. Defensively, I thought it was our best effort of the season.”
 
On Webster’s free throws:
“This is on everybody. This isn’t on Kobe. This is on me. It’s on every player that is a part of this program and Kobe did a lot of really good things out there for us. Unfortunately, it was just one of those nights that all of us that have played this game have had. I told them in the locker room to keep their head up. We did a lot of good things out there. Generally in games like this, it isn’t all about the last play. It is obviously magnified but there were plenty mistakes throughout the course of the game. Our guys did enough to win with their effort and their energy. Unfortunately, it just didn’t go our way in the end.”
 
On Alonzo Verge Jr.:
“It was a personal matter. The decision after talking with him was made. I’m just going to leave it at that and we will see how it goes. We’ve got two days to see where things go, but it was a personal matter. It was a coach’s decision.”
 
On how the team will regroup:
“In this business you’ve got to find a way to put the emotional ones behind you whether it was a win or a loss. We’ve got another tight turnaround with two games in three days (after playing Wisconsin last Thursday. We have an opportunity now going into Michigan. We’ve got to flush it down quickly. If we don’t and it hangs on it could get ugly on Tuesday. We’ve got to find a way to put it behind us which I’m confident our guys will do.”
 
Nebraska Freshman Guard Bryce McGowens 
On the last few minutes of the game
“It got away from us. We did not rebound down the stretch and we did not get stops when we needed to and that changed the game. We just didn’t make the big plays in big moments.”

On adjusting to the physicality
“I really just continue to lift with Coach Kurt (Joseph), our strength and conditioning coach. Jake (Blattner, team nutritionist) and Kurt are a big part of being able to embrace those bumps, take the bumps and finish through contact. They help you play within the physicality of the Big Ten.”

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement:
“Our defense carried us. We made some timely shots. Mawot (Mag) is starting to get in a little groove when we need him. Ron (Harper Jr.) did not have that kind of night, but he made some big ones for us.”
 
“We need everybody. Once we stopped fouling them and made them earn shots, I thought our defense was really good and kind of carried us. Tip of the hat to Nebraska. They played well and they have been in every game this year. They are a dangerous basketball team and with Trey McGowens back, he makes a big difference for them. He is a really good defender and he drives downhill so the two McGowens brothers are hard matchups for us. We did enough to be on the road and win so I am real proud team effort.”
 
On veteran leadership:
“We were not leading at any point until the end. I was just pleased (Nebraska) went one for 10 down the stretch. I thought Paul (Mulcahy) was great the whole game. I thought he gave us tremendous energy. I thought he was all over the place getting loose balls. I think he had four steals.”
 
On players committing themselves to defense:
“That is all we talked about the last couple of days. The ball eventually went in but it has always been about our defense. I think our guys have confidence in it and we have not shown it every night and that is that part that I need to take responsibility for, but we were locked in and had a good game plan for the game.”
 
“Our defense we can count on that. Our veterans know where to be. They can devour a game plan and they did a pretty good job on that. I have to give Nebraska a ton of credit. They played as hard as can be. Every game they have been in it. I have the Illinois tape, I have the Ohio State overtime tape. I just kept telling our guys they are great at home. They have a full team now complementing guys with McGowens back. He is probably their best defender so it was going to be a different game today.”
NU Athletic Communications