LINCOLN — Tryouts for playing time on the Nebraska basketball team continued Tuesday night during the Huskers' 70-48 win over Missouri-Kansas City.

The 5,843 fans at the Devaney Center saw coach Doc Sadler use different starting lineups for each half.

They saw sophomore forward Myles Holley and freshman guard Adrien Coleman on the floor for the first time. They also watched freshman guard Ray Gallegos play 24 minutes after scrapping his redshirt Saturday for two minutes.

Why the lineup shuffling?

It's by necessity.

Sophomore wing Toney McCray's season ended with his decision to have surgery on a torn left elbow ligament and a partially torn triceps tendon.

Those injuries, suffered in a summer pickup game, will require a five- to six-month recovery. He is the second potential starter to be out for the season, following sophomore center Christopher Niemann (a second torn ACL in the same knee).

Also, sophomore guard Brandon Richardson, who made his first career start Saturday, missed the UMKC game with back spasms that began last Friday.

Sadler said he's not done spinning the wheel to identify a lineup for the Huskers (3-1).

“We're spinning it and reinventing it,'' he said. “And I have no idea where it's going to go.

“We're playing guys who have no business playing. They have no idea how to play college basketball, and they are getting double-digit minutes. That's going to catch up to us real quick if we're not careful.''

McCray's absence takes away one of NU's two most creative scorers. The other is freshman Christian Standhardinger, who is sidelined for the first 15 games for his time with a German club team.

Sadler said McCray, who averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in the first three games, struggled with his confidence while playing with a heavily bandaged arm.

“He didn't feel he was helping,'' Sadler said. “I told him I disagreed. But I would support any decision he made.

“He was one of four guys with a little bit of experience. But the last thing you want to do is get a player out there who is not confident.''

McCray, who redshirted two years ago, can't get this season back under NCAA medical hardship rules. He now will have two years to finish two years.

“Toney is a very skilled player,'' NU guard Sek Henry said. “That's a big loss for us because we were already a young team.''

Sadler said the loss of McCray and the temporary absence of Richardson means his only two seniors — Henry and Ryan Anderson — must play well. Both obliged against UMKC (3-1).

Henry had 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 23 minutes. Anderson added nine points, five rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes.

Both had a hand in Nebraska's 21-5 run in the final six minutes of the first half that turned a 20-19 lead into a 41-24 advantage at halftime.

The outburst began with back-to-back 3-pointers from Henry. Anderson had two free throws, a rebound and an assist in that stretch, which junior point guard Lance Jeter capped with a 25-footer at the buzzer.

Among the newcomers, Jeter scored 12 points, freshman forward Jorge Brian Diaz added 10 and Gallegos had seven points and three rebounds.

Henry, sometimes playing with three freshmen or four newcomers, smiled when asked if he feels like a tour guide.

“Sometimes you can feel like that because they've never played college ball,'' he said. “It's going to be harder and harder because when we start playing Big 12 games and away games, it's serious.''

It gets more serious Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CST when Nebraska plays at Southern California in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Challenge.

• Box Score

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com