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January 26, 2014
Huskers Outscore Gophers, 82-78
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Shields
 
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Lincoln, Neb. — Behind a career-high 35 points from Terran Petteway, Nebraska held off Minnesota, 82-78, in front of a sold out crowd of 15,945 at Pinnacle Bank Arena Sunday afternoon.

Petteway, a sophomore from Galveston, Texas, hit 10-of-14 shots from the field, including four 3-pointers, and added six rebounds, as the Huskers improved to 10-9 on the season and bounced back from a four-point loss at Penn State on Thursday.

Petteway, who topped his previous career high of 30 against UMass in November, had 23 points in the second half, as Nebraska (10-9, 2-5 Big Ten) built a 15-point lead and held on down the stretch.

Leading 35-30 at the break, Nebraska opened the half on a 13-3 spurt to build a 48-33 lead after Leslee Smith's steal and basket with 14:33 left. Nebraska led 58-46 before Minnesota used a 7-1 run to pull within six at 59-53 after Oto Osenieks' basket with 7:16 left. Petteway then took over, hitting a long 3-pointer before Benny Parker's alley-oop to Petteway pushed the lead back to 11.

The Gophers, coming off a win over No. 9 Wisconsin on Wednesday, made one last run, as 3-pointers from DeAndre Mathieu and Austin Hollins keyed a 14-4 run that cut a 10-point lead with 1:20 left to 80-78 with 2.7 seconds left.

UP NEXT
The Huskers return to action Thursday evening, hosting Indiana at 7:15 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena. A limited number of tickets have been returned for Thursday's game and can be purchased by calling 800-8-BIGRED or visiting Huskers.com.
 
The match will air live on the Big Ten Network and carried on the Husker Sports Radio Network.

On the inbounds pass, Pettway was fouled with 1.7 seconds left and the sophomore, who went 11-of-14 from the line, hit a pair of free throws to preserve the Huskers' second win in three games.

The sophomore guard was one of three Huskers in double figures, as Walter Pitchford totaled 13 points, while Shavon Shields added 10. In all, the Huskers shot 50 percent from the field, including a season-high 11 3-pointers, while matching a season best with 19 assists.

The 82 points was the most the Huskers have scored in a conference game since joining the Big Ten in 2011-12.

Early on, Pitchford's sharp shooting staked the Huskers to an early lead, as he scored seven of Nebraska's first 10 points, as the Huskers raced to a 10-3 lead.

Minnesota regrouped with a 10-2 run, taking a 13-12 lead on an Elliott Eliason dunk and neither team led by more than five points the remainder of the half. While Pitchford and Petteway combined for 22 of Nebraska's 35 points, Minnesota's Malik Smith single-handedly kept the Gophers within striking distance. Smith scored 18 of his 29 points in the first half, including 5-of-7 from long range.

Smith, making his first start of the season, finished with a team-high 29 points, including 8-of-12 from 3-point range, while DeAndre Mathieu added 13 points in the losing effort.

Notes:
Nebraska's 82 points is the most by the Huskers in a Big Ten Conference game (previous best was 80 vs. Illinois on 2/18/12) and most in a conference game since scoring also scoring 82 at Iowa State on 2/26/11.
Terran Petteway's career-high 35 points ties for the 10th-highest scoring effort in school history and is the most since Aleks Maric had 36 against Iowa State on Feb. 28, 2007.
Petteway's 35 points is also the most points by a player in a conference game this season (Yogi Ferrell, Indiana, 30 vs. Illinois on 12/31).
Petteway has a team-high seven 20-point games this season and has two 30-point games this season (also vs. UMass.
Nebraska improves to 9-1 at home this season and has won 11 of its last 12 home game dating back to last season (only loss was a one-point setback against Michigan on 1/9).
Petteway reached double figures for the 18th time in 19 games and the 15th consecutive game.
Nebraska tied a season high with 19 assists (also vs. Arkansas State on 12/14).
Walter Pitchford reached double figures for the eighth time this season and third in conference play, as he finished with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
Nebraska hit a season-high 11 3-pointers, the second straight game NU has had at least 10 3-pointers in a game. Nebraska's 50 percent from 3-point range also tied a season best (vs. Arkansas State and FGCU)
Nebraska is now 9-2 in games decided by five points or less under Tim Miles
Minnesota's Malik Smith's 8 three pointers tied an opponent single-game record (seven other times, most recently Obi Muonelo on 3/5/07
Tonight's sellout crowd of 15,945 is the second-largest crowd in school history.
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                       1st   2nd   Total
Minnesota               30    48      78
Nebraska                35    47      82
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Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.