Indianapolis, IN. — Shavon Shields scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead No. 11 seed Nebraska to an 89-72 victory over No. 14 Rutgers Wednesday night in first round action of the Big Ten tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Tai Webster had 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and the Cornhuskers (15-17) advanced to Thursday's quarterfinals where they will meet No. 6 seed Wisconsin.
It was the Cornhuskers' third victory over Rutgers this season and ended their five-game losing streak. Nebraska's last victory was at home against Penn State on Feb. 13.
Rutgers (7-25) trailed 37-33 at halftime but tied the game at 43 on Corey Sanders' 3-pointer with 16:51 to play.
That's when Nebraska caught fire. The Cornhuskers went on a 17-2 run over the next seven minutes to break the game open at 60-45. Five different Nebraska players scored during the run.
Photo Courtesy Nate Olsen/Nebraska Communications
Michael Jacobson had a career-high 14 points tonight in NU's win over Rutgers
The Huskers will advance to meet sixth-seeded Wisconsin Thursday night at 8 p.m. (CT). The game will be carried on the IMG Husker Sports Network and televised nationally on ESPN2.
Notes:
•The win snapped NU's three-game losing streak in the Big Ten Tournament dating back to 2013
•Nebraska's 89 points was its highest total since scoring 90 in the first meeting at Rutgers on Jan. 9.
•Shavon Shields posted the first double-double of the season and sixth of his career with 20 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. It marked Shields' first double-double since last year's Big Ten Tournament opener against Penn State.
•With 20 points, Shields moved into seventh place on NU's career scoring chart, passing Tyronn Lue (1,577) and Erick Strickland (1,586). Shields now has 1,591 career points.
•Shavon Shields has reached double figures in his last 14 games, the longest stretch of his career.
•Michael Jacobson had a career-high 14 points tonight. His previous high was 13 points also against Rutgers on Feb. 6. He also added six rebounds and two blocked shots.
•Tai Webster reached double figures for the 16th time this season with 18 points.
•With two steals, Benny Parker moved into 10th place on NU's career steals list with 131.
•NU's 11 steals was the team's second-highest total of the season.
•NU put five players in double figures for the first time since Nov. 28 (vs. Tennessee) and the third time this season.
•With three 3-pointers, Andrew White III became the sixth Husker to have 80 or more 3-pointers in a season.
