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Highlights/postgame

December 30, 2015
NU falls to Wildcats
in Big Ten opener
mug
Parker
mug
White
mug
Webster
--------------------------------- 
                   1   2   total 
Northwestern      35  46    81 
Nebraska          38  34    72 
--------------------------------- 

Lincoln, Neb. — Despite a career performance from senior Benny Parker, the Nebraska men's basketball team fell to Northwestern, 81-72, Wednesday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Parker put together the finest effort his Husker career, setting career highs in both points (17) and assists (seven), as the guard hit a career-high five 3-pointers in a losing effort.

Nebraska, which falls to 8-6, was unable to control Northwestern, as the Wildcats overcome a 12-point second-half deficit to improve to 13-1 on the season.

Freshman Derek Pardon led the Northwestern comeback, scoring 23 of 28 points in the second half on 9-of-10 shooting, as the Wildcats shot 55 percent in the second half and put four players in double figures.

Webster
Photo courtesy of Huskers.com
Tai Webster drives to the hoop.

Andrew White III added 22 points, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range for the Huskers, as Nebraska used a 21-4 spurt to erase a five-point deficit and take a 51-39 lead after a steal and layup from Parker with 17:43 remaining.

Nebraska led 54-44 after White's 3-pointer with 15:56 left, but the Wildcats would not go away. Northwestern used and 8-2 run to pull within 56-52 and would eventually tie at 60-all on a 3-pointer from Scottie Lindsey. The Huskers led 66-63 after White's fifth 3-pointer of the game with 5:14 left, but Northwestern would take control, running off eight straight points, capped by a jumper with Tre Demps to make it 71-66 with 2:25 left.

Nebraska got to within 71-68 after a pair of Tai Webster free throws with 1:48 left, but the Wildcats would ice the game at the line, going 8-of-9 from the line to pick up their first-ever win at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

In the first half, Parker and White combined for 25 points, as the Huskers took a 38-35 lead into the locker room. White had 13 points, including the Huskers' final five points of the half, while Parker matched his career high with 12 points, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and added five assists and four rebounds to pace the Big Red.

Huskers got out of the gates quickly, as Nebraska built a pair of early six point leads, the last coming at 16-10 after a reverse layup from Andrew White III. The Wildcats, who hit five 3-pointers in the first half, used a 16-6 run to take a 26-22 lead after Aaron Falzon's third 3-pointer of the half.

Nebraska trailed 35-30 after a Demps' 3-pointer, but 3-pointers from White and Tai Webster helped NU regain the lead before White's fadeaway jumper beat the first half buzzer and staked the Huskers a 3-point halftime lead.

Demps finished with 17 points, while Falzon and Bryant McIntosh added 12 and 11, respectively.

Nebraska returns to action Saturday afternoon, as the Huskers host Indiana. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. and a limited number of tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com or calling the NU Athletics Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.