LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Andre Almeida scored 20 points and pulled down seven rebounds in his first game as a Husker to lead Nebraska to a 76-68 win over South Dakota Friday in the season opener.
Nebraska outscored South Dakota 15-5 to open the second half, going up 51-36 on Almeida's spinning layup with 14:18 remaining. The Coyotes were able to cut the margin to 10 on Charlie Westbrook's 3-pointer that made the score 58-48 with 9:26 left.
Nebraska's biggest lead was 16 at 70-54 on Christian Standhardinger's short jumper with 5:30 left. South Dakota rallied to cut the lead to 74-66 on Jordan Boots' 3-pointer with 1:28 remaining.
Brandon Ubel and Standhardinger added 10 points each for Nebraska. Westbrook had 22 to lead South Dakota.
Almeida, a 6-11, 310 pound junior, transferred to Nebraska this season from Arizona Western College.
Updated November 12, 2010
