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 Shields |  Petteway |  Rivers |
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1 2 total
Illinois 31 38 69
NEBRASKA 25 32 57
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Ravonte Rice scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer with 1:30 left after Nebraska was within 56-50. Rice got a tough shot over Shields as the shot clock went down, breaking open a game that was back and forth for a good portion of the second half.
The Huskers (13-16, 5-12), had three players finish in double figures, as Terran Petteway added 13 points, while David Rivers finished with 10 points and five rebounds. A fourth Husker was nearly in double figures, as Leslee Smith had season bests in both points (eight) and rebounds (nine).
In all, Illinois won the game from the 3-point line and the foul line, as the hosts went 7-of-16 from long range and 20-23 from the line, compared to just 4-of-5 for Nebraska. Both teams shot 43 percent from the field, and the Illini held a slim 31-28 advantage on the glass.
With the score tied at 44, Rice hit a basket and a pair of free throws with 9:08 left put the hosts up by four. Nebraska cut the deficit to 46-44 after a Leslee Smith basket, but a Kendrick Nunn 3-pointer and an Ahmad Starks basket push the lead to seven points and forced a Husker timeout.
Nunn and Leron Black added 11 points while Malcolm Hill chipped in 10 points for the victors.
Nebraska would not go away, cutting the deficit to 53-48 after a Benny Parker layup with 5:48 left and got to 55-50 after a David Rivers basket with 3:58 left. That would be as close as Nebraska would get, as Rice 3-pointer was the backbreaker for the Huskers.
The Huskers stayed within striking distance in the first half, holding Illinois to 35 percent shooting in trailing 31-25 at the break. Petteway had seven points, while Leslee Smith had six points and five boards in the opening half. Leron Black provided the Illini a spark with nine points off the bench in the first half, including 5-of-6 from the line.
The Huskers got off to a solid start, using an early 9-0 run behind the play of Leslee Smith, who had four points and four boards, as the Huskers took a 9-3 lead after a David Rivers jumper with 15:12 left in the half.
Nebraska led 12-8 after a Shields' 3-pointer with 12:03 left in the half, but the Illini ran off seven straight points to take a 15-12 lead and force a Husker timeout with 8:17 left in the half.
The hosts pushed the lead to 17-12 after a Nunn dive, but Nebraska would come back with two free throws by Petteway to end the run before a Shields putback pulled the Huskers within 17-16 with 6:27 left in the half.
The Illini, who had one field goal in the final four minutes of the half, kept the lead with solid shooting from the line, hitting 10-of-11 from the charity stripe in the opening half. Illinois built a 28-21 lead after a pair of Jaylon Tate free throws, but Nebraska would not go away, cutting the lead to six at the break after a layup from David Rivers barely beat the buzzer.
Nebraska quickly roared back into the contest, as a Petteway jumper and two buckets by Shields tied the score at 31 with 17:51 left to force an Illini timeout. Shields, who scored seven straight for the Huskers, hit a 3-pointer to give the Huskers a 34-31 lead before Rivers' basket pushed the lead to five with 16:32 left.
Illinois came back, as a 3-pointer from Rive sparked a 6-0 run, as the Illini took a 37-36 lead on a putback by Black with 13:20 left. The teams traded baskets as a Pettway jumper gave NU a 40-39 lead with 12:01 left before Rice's third 3-pointer of the night put the hosts back up front.
The Huskers return to Pinnacle Bank Arena Sunday evening, as they take on No. 10 Maryland. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. with Senior Day festivities set for pregame. The game, which is a sellout, will be televised on BTN and carried on the Husker Sports Radio Network.
Notes:
*-Walter Pitchford did not make the trip because of a hip injury suffered earlier this week. Pitchford had played in all 59 games for the Huskers over the last two seasons before tonight's game.
*-Leslee Smith had season bests in both points (eight) and rebounds (nine), topping his previous best of seven apiece against Michigan State.