Nebraska's new point guard scored 23 points and had four assists and three steals Sunday in an 83-63 victory over Rhode Island.

Spencer has gotten better each game after sitting out last season following his transfer from LSU.

"I feel like I'm coming along slowly but surely," he said.

Spencer scored just six points on 1-of-9 shooting in the opener against South Dakota, then had 22 points and helped lead the Cornhuskers' comeback in a double-overtime victory last week at Southern California.

Spencer took charge of the offense against the Rams, alternately pushing the ball up the court and slowing the game down and making 8 of 13 shots.

"From being out a year, he's already playing exceptionally well, and he's only going to get better," guard Brandon Richardson said. "The first game was a jitters game because he hadn't played in a year. Bo is a great talent, and hopefully he continues his outbursts."

The Cornhuskers (3-0) won their 26th straight home nonconference game and are off to their best start in three years. The Rams (0-3) are off to their worst start since 1974-75.

Caleb Walker added 17 points and Dylan Talley 15 for the Huskers, and Richardson had a career-high eight assists and four steals.

Richardson also guarded Jamel Wilson, who averaged 31 points through two games, and held him to 14.

"Brandon is just so solid," Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said. "He's going to defend the other team's best perimeter player, and he's going to get on the floor for loose balls. He's the tough guy we need him to be."

Nebraska made 11 of its first 15 shots. The Rams missed 15 of their first 19, and the Huskers led by 20 points less than 12 minutes into the game.

Nebraska converted the Rams' 15 first-half turnovers into 25 points.

"You can't have 15 turnovers in the first half and expect to be in the game," Rams coach Jim Baron said. "You've got to play smarter. You've got to make better decisions."

Richardson's 3-pointer late in the half gave Nebraska its biggest lead at 39-15. The Huskers were up 40-20 at the half.

"We came out and weren't playing as a team as much as we should have," said the Rams' Orion Outerbridge, who scored 24 points. "It was pretty much one pass and one shot. They played good defense. But it was mostly our fault. They're a good team. They shot the ball like crazy. But it was mostly us."

Rhode Island, playing its third straight road game to start the season, had scored 90 points each in losses to George Mason and Texas. The Rams also committed a combined 34 turnovers in those two games, and they coughed up the ball 18 times against a Nebraska team that always is strong defensively under sixth-year coach Sadler.

Fans began heading for the exits with 4:09 left after Spencer fed Walker for a beautiful dunk to finish a 2-on-1 break.

Nebraska is in the middle of a stretch of five straight games against teams that won 18 or more last season. The Huskers host Oregon on Wednesday. Rhode Island plays its home opener Friday against Hofstra.