For the second straight game, Nebraska's second-half rally came up just short, as the Huskers fell to No. 5 Wisconsin, 65-55, in front of a sellout crowd of 15,701 at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Tuesday.

The Huskers (13-11, 5-7 Big Ten) trailed 52-37 with 3:37 left before charging back behind the play of Tai Webster, as the sophomore scored all five of his points in a 10-2 spurt to pull NU within 52-45 after a Shavon Shields jumper with 2:37 left.

Nebraska kept the pressure on, as All-Big Ten guard Terran Petteway scored 18 of his 23 points after halftime to help the charge. The junior scored six straight points for the Huskers to cut the Wisconsin lead to 58-53 with 1:04 left.

Unfortunately, Nebraska would get no closer, as Wisconsin (22-2, 10-1 Big Ten) went 7-of-8 from the foul line in the final minute to stifle the Huskers' comeback hopes. In all, Wisconsin went 24-of-31 from the foul line, including 22-of-27 in the second half to keep Nebraska at bay.

Sam Dekker led Wisconsin with 21 point and eight rebounds, while Frank Kaminsky and Bronson Kenig added 13 apiece for the winners.

Photo Courtesy Nate Olsen/NU Media Relations

Tai Webster sparked NU's second-half rally vs. Wisconsin.

Petteway finished with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Shavon Shields added 12 in a losing effort, as the Huskers' cold start proved costly.

Nebraska, which saw its five-game home win streak snapped, shot just 21 percent in the first half in falling behind 27-13 at the break.

The Badgers, who never trailed, took control early, scoring the first seven points and jumping out to a 14-4 lead six minutes into the contest. Dekker and Kaminsky had 10 of Wisconsin's first 14 points, as Nebraska struggled to find an offensive rhythm.

Dekker had 13 first half points, as his 3-point play with 1:28 left in the half gave Wisconsin a 16-point cushion. The Huskers defensive kept them within range, as NU held the Badgers to just 41 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.

A Koenig 3-pointer on Wisconsin's first second-half possession made it a 17-point game, but the Huskers would chip away, using a 10-3 spurt keyed by Leslee Smith, who had two baskets before Petteway's 3-pointer pulled NU within 33-23 with 14:03 left.

Wisconsin, as they did for most of the night, showed the poise of a veteran team, answering every time Nebraska made a spurt. The Badgers ran off five straight points, as Dekker's 3-pointer pushed the lead back to 15. The lead would hover between 10 and 16 before the Huskers made a final charge.

The Huskers return to action on Sunday, as they travel to Purdue. Tipoff is set for 4:15 p.m. (central) and the game will be on BTN and the Husker Sports Network.