The Nebraska men’s basketball team returns to action Thursday night, as the Huskers hosts Big Ten newcomer Rutgers at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Tipoff for Thursday’s matchup between the Huskers and Scarlet Knights is set for 8:05 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on ESPNU with Adam Amin and Craig Robinson on the call. The game is also available online and on mobile devices on the WatchESPN app.
The game will be broadcast across the state of Nebraska on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln, 1110 KFAB in Omaha and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington with Kent Pavelka calling the action and Matt Davison adding color commentary. The game can be heard for free on Huskers.com and available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as on TuneIn Radio and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
A limited number of tickets for Thursday’s game, ranging from $10 (300 Level) to $30 (100 Level) are available on Huskers.com or at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Ticket Office beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening.
The Huskers (8-6, 0-2 Big Ten) look to avoid an 0-3 conference start after falling at Iowa, 70-59, on Monday night in Iowa City. Junior forward Shavon Shields led Nebraska with 25 points and six rebounds, but Iowa went 31-of-38 from the foul line, including 9-of-11 in the final 2:38 to pull away in the final minute.
Shields has become one of the Big Ten’s most consistent scorers this season and is averaging 22.3 points per game over the last three contests. Entering Wednesday’s action, Shields leads the Big Ten in scoring in conference play at 22.5 points per game. He combines with All-American candidate Terran Petteway to give the Huskers a pair of high-scoring wings.
Thursday’s matchup features a pair of teams who defend well. Nebraska is holding opponents to 38.7 percent shooting this season, including 29 percent from 3-point range, while Rutgers has limited teams to 38.9 percent shooting, including just 30 percent from 3-point range. Nebraska has limited four of its last five teams to under 40 percent shooting, while Rutgers (9-6, 1-1 Big Ten) is allowing a Big Ten-low 48.5 points per game in Big Ten play.
Thursday’s contest continues a busy week for the Huskers, as they are in the middle of playing three games in a seven-day stretch. After Sunday’s home game with Illinois, they play only once until Jan. 20. The game with Rutgers also begins a stretch where four of the next five are at Pinnacle Bank Arena.