Huskers Fall to Memphis, 73-61

Orlando, Fla. – Emmanuel Bandoumel matched his season high with 18 points, while Derrick Walker posted a double-double in his 2022-23 debut, but 13 second-half turnovers proved costly in a 73-61 loss to Memphis Friday evening. 

Bandoumel led NU (3-3) with 18 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, and five assists, while Walker had 15 points and 12 rebounds after missing the Huskers first five games of the season. 

Memphis forced five turnovers in the first four minutes of the second half as part of a 9-2 run, turning a 33-30 lead into a 10-point advantage at 42-32 to force a Husker timeout. The Huskers fought back and pulled to within 47-42 after a Walker layup and a 3-pointer from Keisei Tominaga with 13:30 left, but Memphis took over from there.

Alex Lomax, who came into the contest averaging just 4.5 points per game, keyed a decisive 12-2 run with six of his 13 points. Lomax, who was 0-for-8 from the 3-point line on the year to this point, hit a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim and fell in and then had a steal and layup on the Huskers’ next possession pushing the lead back to 10. It was part of a decisive 12-2 spurt that pushed the lead to 15, and the Huskers were unable to get closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

In all, Nebraska shot 43 percent, including 9-of-24 from 3-point range and out-rebounded the Tigers, 33-30, but the 20 Husker turnovers, including 13 after halftime, led to 19 Tiger points.

Kendric…