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November 28, 2014
Pitchford Paces Huskers to Victory
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Pitchford
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Petteway
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Webster
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                    1   2   total 
Tenn.-Martin (3)   27  37    64 
NEBRASKA     (0)   40  35    75 
----------------------------- 
Lincoln, Neb. —

Behind a career-high performance from Walter Pitchford, Nebraska improved to 4-1 on the season with a 75-64 win over Tennessee-Martin Friday night.

Pitchford, a 6-foot-10 junior, poured in a career-high 19 points, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range, to break out of early-season doldrums. All-Big Ten performer Terran Petteway added with 18 points and dished out a career high eight assists for Nebraska, which extended its home win streak to 12 games.

Pitchford got the Huskers off to a blistering start, hitting his first three 3-pointers, as Nebraska opened the game by connecting on its first six shots from the field, including five 3-pointers, to build a 17-10 lead in the first five minutes.

UT Martin roared back behind the shooting of Twymond Howard, who had six points in a 14-6 run as the visitors took a 24-23 lead after a pair of free throws by Myles Taylor with 6:36 left in the half

From that point, the Huskers took control on the defensive end, holding UT Martin to one field goal the remainder of the half and using a 17-3 run to build a 13-point halftime cushion.

NU's bench keyed the run, as Tai Webster, Tarin Smith and Moses Abraham combined for 11 points in the surge, as Smith's driving basket beat the first half buzzer and ending a run of seven straight Husker points.

Nebraska's bench outscored UT-Martin, 18-4, as Abraham finished with seven points and five rebounds, while Webster chipped in seven points.

With the Huskers holding a 43-33 lead early in the second half, Benny Parker keyed a 9-0 Husker run, as the junior scored five points, staking the Huskers to their largest lead of the night, at 52-33 with 14:09 left.

UT Martin (3-2) came right back, using a 12-0 run to pull whittle a 16-point lead to 54-50 after Devellie Smith's 3-pointer with 9:14 left. The Huskers than regrouped around its veterans, as two Petteway jumpers and a bucket by David Rivers extended the lead to double figures at 60-50 with 7:49 left.

The Skyhawks continued to battle behind the long-range shooting of Deville Smith who had 12 of his 15 points in the second half. The Huskers kept UT Martin at bay with strong foul shooting, going 11-of-13 from the line in the second half as the visitors were unable to cut Nebraska's lead to less than seven points in the final eight minutes.

Twymond Howard paced four Skyhawks in double figures with 18 points. ,

The Huskers return to action Monday night, as they travel to Florida State for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tipoff between the Huskers and Seminoles is set for 6 p.m (CT) and will be carried on ESPN2 and the Husker Sports Radio Network.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.