LINCOLN - Nebraska was swept by Iowa last year, but that won't be the case this season. 

Nebraska knocked off the Hawkeyes 66-50 on Thursday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena, notching their first Big Ten win of the year. The Huskers had runs of 9-0 and 19-0 in the first half to build an eventual first half lead of 20. Iowa's Pat McCaffery hit a three pointer from straight away for the gams first points, but Nebraska responded with back to back Derrick Walker drive and scores, and a three pointer from Sam Griesel as part of the 9-0 run. 

Nebraska would go up by as much as 20 in the first half as part of a 19-0 run which included three pointers from Sam Griesel and Juwan Gary. Griesel ended the night with a double-double, scoring 12 and adding 10 rebounds. 

Iowa would go on a late run in the first half to narrow the deficit to nine, as Kris Murray, whose brother Keegan now plays for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, hit a deep three forcing a Nebraska timeout. Juwan Gary answered with a bank shot triple to put Nebraska up a dozen at the break, leading 38-26.

Nebraska led by over twenty in the second half, but went nearly eight minutes without a bucket. Iowa never was able to pull closer than 15 in the final 20 minutes, and Nebraska would hang on to win 66-50. Juwan Gary led the Big Red with 14 points. 

"First twenty minutes was out of the way, so we just went to the next twenty," Gary said, speaking on his performance. "I give credit to all my point guards and teammates for finding me... I just stick within the offense. If I wasn't scoring, I'm still moving around. I give credit to all my teammates, for sure."

Iowa entered the game as one of the premier scoring teams in the Big Ten averaging 83 points per game; the Huskers held them 33 points below that mark allowing just 50. Fred Hoiberg says defense was key to winning last night and will always be key, in the Big Ten.

"We kept defending and that's what we talked about in the huddle, winning the game on defense and on energy... We did a good job milking the clock after getting some key offensive rebounds," Hoiberg said. "That's a team [Iowa] who can go on runs in a hurry. They score in bunches, so for our guys to go out and win it on the defensive end, that's what it's all about."

With the win, Nebraska improves to 8-6, and to 1-2 in Big Ten play, as that was their first conference win of the season. Iowa falls to 8-5, and are now 0-2 in Big Ten play.

Nebraska is back at it next Tuesday to take on Michigan State in East Lansing.