November 17, 2015

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                 1   2   total 
Villanova (11)  38  49    87 
NEBRASKA  (NR)  25  38    63 
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Philadelphia, Pa. — Villanova used with a 22-0 first-half run to erase a seven-point deficit, as Nebraska suffered its first loss of the season, falling to the No. 11 Wildcats, 87-63, at the Pavilion Tuesday night in the inaugural Gavitt Tipoff Games.

The Huskers led 23-16 midway through the half, but the Wildcats took control over the final seven minutes and posted a 24-point win.

Josh Hart led four Wildcats in double figures with 19 points, while Daniel Ochefu added 17 points and 10 boards for the victors. Villanova also took advantage of 22 Husker turners, leading directly to 33 Wildcat points.

Andrew White III led NU with 18 points and six rebounds, while Shavon Shields and Glynn Watson Jr. added 12 points apiece in a losing effort.

In the first half, the Huskers withstood the early punch, as Villanova raced out to a 7-0 lead in the opening three minutes. Nebraska, behind 3-point shooting from Benny Parker and Andrew White III, roared back with a 9-2 run of its own. NU tied the score at 14-all after a Shields' 3-pointer with 12:04 left in the half before using a sustained run to silence the sellout crowd of 6,500.

Ed Morrow Jr. helped key the Husker effort, using a 9-2 spurt to build a 23-16 lead. Morrow's second basket started a 7-0 run for the visitors as a convention 3-point play from Shields and a driving basket from White put the Huskers up 23-16.

NU, which shot 32 percent in the half, then went into an extended drought, going over seven minutes without a point, as Villanova took control. Daniel Ochefu, Ryan Arcidiacono and Ryan Hart combined for 18 points in a 22-0 spurt that allowed the hosts to build a 38-23 advantage.

Ochefu had 11 points and six rebounds, as the Wildcats three top returnees combined for 29 first-half points. White led NU with eight points in the opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, Nebraska cut the deficit to 15, at 53-38 after a Watson jumper with 11:52 left, but would get no closer, as the Wildcats went on a 13-0 run to extend the lead to 28. Villanova shot 56 percent from the field in the second half and led by as much as 30.

The Huskers return home to begin a three-game homestand this Thursday, Nov. 19, as Delaware State visits Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and a limited number of tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets, calling the NU Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED or at the Pinnacle Bank Arena box office beginning Thursday at 5:30 p.m