Nebraska runs past Missouri State in Hall of Fame Classic semis at KC’s Sprint Center

Nebraska got an opportunity to learn how it can play when its most productive player, James Palmer Jr., is less than stellar.

Turns out, not bad.

The Cornhuskers raced past Missouri State 85-62 in the Hall of Fame Classic at Sprint Center on Monday. Palmer, averaging a team-best 21 points in three victories, picked up two quick fouls in the first half and finished the game with eight points in 23 minutes.

But Isaac Copeland more than picked up the slack. The senior forward who started his career at Georgetown finished with 23 points and seven rebounds.

“I was just playing my game,” Copeland said. “It was just my night.”

Nebraska (4-0) will play Texas Tech in Tuesday’s championship game, and if the Cornhuskers win, perhaps coach Tim Miles can coax some emotion from Copeland.

“I gave him a hard time after the game, I told him he could smile,” Miles said. “He said he’d smile if we won (Tuesday).”

Tech defeated Southern California 78-63 in the other semifinal behind 18 points each from Jarrett Culver and Tariq Owens. Missouri State will play the Trojans in the third-place game at 6 p.m.

Nebraska, picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten, led by nine with 10 minutes remaining before steadily pulling away against a Missouri State team that’s the eighth choice in the Missouri Valley.

First-year Bears coach Dana Ford is working with three returning lettermen. He liked his team’s effort but knew what he was up against.

“Our margin of error is so thin against a team this good,” Ford said. “But it was a chance to learn with all these new guys who haven’t played at this level and against a team this good.”

Keandre Cook finished with 22 points, his third straight 20-point game, for Missouri State (3-1).

The tournament is played in conjunction with the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and the newest members were introduced at halftime.

Recognized were former players Sam Perkins (North Carolina), Otis Birdsong (Houston), Marvin Webster, Sidney Moncrief (Arkansas), Sean Elliott (Arizona), Paul Westphal (Southern California) and Marvin Webster (Morgan State) posthumously, along with coaches John Kresse (College of Charleston) and Danny Miles (Oregon Tech).

Blair Kerkhoff

Blair Kerkhoff covers the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and college sports for The Star.

This story was originally published November 19, 2018 at 9:13 PM.