LINCOLN, Neb. — After an unimpressive Big Ten debut for Thomas Bryant, in which he was in foul trouble throughout the game, the big man was involved early and often against Nebraska.

He was active on both ends of the floor, as the freshman had 10 points and two blocks in 13 minutes of playing time in the first half. Bryant started the game a perfect 4 of 4 from the field as a result of being fed down low from the get-go.

It was a splendid bounce-back game for Bryant.

Bryant finished with 19 points and four rebounds and helped lift Indiana over Nebraska 79-69 Saturday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

He said that he trusted his coaches and put the Rutgers game behind him.

“I just trusted the coaching staff and my teammates,” Bryant said. “It was a hard-fought game against Rutgers, but I knew if I stayed with it, I’d bounce back.”

Yogi Ferrell had some encouraging words about the freshman center.

“When you got somebody like [Bryant] down low that you can throw to when you need a bucket for a win,” Ferrell said. “We are going to do that.”

Throughout the first period, the Hoosiers had eight turnovers that led to 16 points for the Cornhuskers. The turnovers are what led to Indiana heading into the second half down 39-36. Indiana found a way to settle down in the second period as the team only turned the ball over six times.

Head coach Tom Crean said he was proud of how the team was able to weather the storm that was the first half.

According to Ferrell, the difference between this game, in which the Hoosiers turned the ball over 14 times, compared to the Rutgers game, in which they turned it over a season-high 23 times, was simple:

“The difference was taking pride in the basketball,” Ferrell said.

Ferrell had a strong second half. The senior point guard scored 15 of his team-high 24 points in the final 20 minutes of the game. Ferrell did a good job at creating space on what should have been difficult shots to give himself open looks to the basket.

Ferrell said that the biggest difference between the two halves was the play of the defense and that the improved defensive play helped the Hoosiers step it up on offense.

“In the second half we made their 3-point field goal percentage drop,” Ferrell said. “That transitioned over to our offense, as we wanted to run on them and make stops.”

Although Bryant takes the spotlight, the other Indiana freshmen have been coming into their own as of late. OG Anunoby finished with 11 points on making all four of his shots from the field. He also had a steal for a breakaway in the second half as he continues to prove to be one of the Hoosiers better defenders.

Juwan Morgan only scored two points, but the freshman played better than the stats would indicate. He also had an impressive assist to Nick Zeisloft on a nice pass from the inside to the perimeter.

Crean said that the play of the freshmen has been important, and especially important as they attempt to replace the injured James Blackmon Jr.

“Our guys answered the bell from start to finish,” Crean said. “They did a much better job in the second half. The second half was able to happen because we weathered those storms in the first half. A few weeks ago, or a month ago we might not have come back.”

Up next: After recording back-to-back Big Ten road wins for the first time since the 2012-13 season, the Hoosiers return to Assembly Hall to take on the Wisconsin Badgers Tuesday, Jan. 5 in a game in which the 1976 National Championship team will be honored.