December 10, 2014

----------------------------- 
                    1   2   total 
Incarnate(NR)      33  41    74 
NEBRASKA (NR)      32  41    73 
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Lincoln, Neb. — Kyle Hittle's baseline jumper with 2.7 seconds capped a furious rally, as Incarnate Word shocked Nebraska, 74-73, at Pinnacle Bank Arena Wednesday evening.

The Huskers (5-3) led 71-66 with 33 seconds left, but could not close the Cardinals out, After a Traylin Farris basket cut the lead to three, the Huskers turned the ball over in the backcourt, and Shawn Johnson was fouled on a 3-point attempt. Johnson hit two of three from the line to make it 71-70.

Shavon Shields, who finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, was fouled on the inbounds and hit both free throws to give NU 73-70 lead, but Johnson was fouled again behind the 3-point line on UIW's next possession. Johnson, who finished with 13 points, hit two of three to pull Incarnate Word within one.

NU, which finished with 14 turnovers, threw away the inbounds pass after the free throw, giving the visitors the ball under the basket with 6.7 seconds remaining. Hittle, who finished with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting, got the inbounds pass and hit a tough turnaround baseline jumper take the lead.

Nebraska had one final chance for the win, but Terran Petteway's 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark, silencing a Pinnacle Bank Arena crowd.

Jontrell Walker led five Incarnate Word with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Cardinals shot 48 percent on the night, including 58 percent in the second half.

Petteway finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Walter Pitchford added 10 in a losing effort, as Nebraska suffered its second straight home loss.

In the first half, Nebraska held Incarnate Word to 39 percent from the floor, but trailed 33-32 at the break, as the visitors went 5-for-14 from 3-point range and 8-of-8 from the foul line and took advantage of 10 Husker turnovers.

Nebraska got off to a quick start behind the play of Shields and Benny Parker, who helped the Huskers race out to a 10-2 lead. The duo combined for NU's first 10 points as Nebraska hit four of its first five shots from the field.

Nebraska built a 20-14 after a Nick Fuller 3-pointer with 9:29 left in the half, but five straight points from Incarnate Word trimmed the deficit to 20-19 after a pair of Hittle free throws. For the remainder of the half, the Cardinals had an answer for every Husker run, taking their first lead at 31-28 on a 3-pointer from Denzel Livingston with 2:13 left in the half and took a one-point lead into the break.

Nebraska trailed 35-32 after a Walker putback before Nebraska started to get the ball inside and take advantage. Pitchford had five of his eight second-half points in a 13-3 spurt, as Nebraska extended the lead to 45-38 after a layup from Petteway with 14:11 left.

The Huskers built their biggest lead of the night at 50-40 after a Pitchford 3-pointer with 12:59 left, but Incarnate Word fought right back, using a 9-2 surge to pull within 52-49 after a Walker 3-pointer with 9:34 left.

Incarnate Word cut the lead to two but the Huskers responded with a 9-2 run to push the lead back to nine on a Tai Webster 3-pointer with 5:52 left. NU led 67-60 after a Petteway 3-pointer with 2:32 left, but the Cardinals would not quit, getting a 3-pointer from Walker and a basket by Farris to make it a two-point game, at 67-65, with 1:23 remaining, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

The Huskers return to action Saturday night, as they host the Cincinnati Bearcats. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised by BTN and carried on the Huskers Sports Network.