Updated at 8:39 p.m., Saturday, December 23, 2006
Nebraska overtakes Houston for 3rd in Rainbow Classic
Associated Press
Aleks Maric scored 21 points as Nebraska dominated Houston in the second half to win 70-57 today in the third-place game of the Rainbow Classic at Stan Sheriff Center.Sek Henry added a career-high 20 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Cornhuskers (8-3) went on a 20-3 run after the half to overcome a 39-34 deficit.
Houston (5-5) was led by Dion Dowell with 24 points and seven rebounds. Robert Lee scored 12.
Maric, Nebraska's 6-foot-11 center, pulled down 15 rebounds as he repeatedly got underneath the rim to jam in several dunks over the heads of Houston's defenders.
Nebraska gained the momentum when a last-second 3-pointer by Robert McKiver before the half was disqualified by referees who determined he didn't get the shot off before the buzzer. McKiver finished with seven points.
From there, the Cougars couldn't seem to make a shot, sinking only five field goals for the rest of the game.
Nebraska's only loss in the tournament came to Hawai'i in the semifinals. Hawai'i was scheduled to face Creighton in the Rainbow Classic championship game tonight.
