Bradford Leads Huskers To Double-Overtime Victory

Lincoln -- Steffon Bradford scored four of his 17 points in the final two minutes of the second overtime as the Nebraska men's basketball team downed Eastern Illinois, 81-78, in its season opener Tuesday evening at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Bradford, who was 7-of-13 in his major college debut, broke a 76-all tie as the junior converted a pair of shots to lift Nebraska to the win, its 19th straight home opening win.

Bradford, one of four first-time starters in the NU lineup, finished with 17 points and 19 rebounds, the most by a Husker since Derrick Chandler had 20 during the 1991-92 season, in the victory.

Nebraska, as it did in its two exhibition games, erased a double-digit deficit to force overtime against EIU (0-2). Trailing 56-46 with 7:28 remaining, Bradford led a Husker comeback, scoring five points during a 9-2 run which cut the Panther lead to 63-62. EIU extended the lead to 65-62 on a Kyle Hill jumper before point guard Danny Walker tied the score at 65-all with a 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining.

Walker, who sent both exhibition games into overtime with 3-pointers, finished with 15 points as he connected on five-of-seven 3-points.

With the score tied at 66, EIU called a time out with 23 seconds remaining, but Rodney Fields stole the pass from Hill with two seconds left in regulation to force the first of two extra sessions.

Behind a Walker 3-pointer and a Larry Florence jumper, Nebraska, which had led only once in regulation, scored the first five points of overtime to take a 71-66 advantage. Eastern Illinois would come back, regaining the lead at 72-71 on a Michael Forrest basket, before Florence, who posted the fourth double-double of his career with 18 points and 10 rebounds, put the Huskers back on top at 73-72 with 11 seconds remaining. EIU tied the score at 73 on the first of two John Smith free throw attempts, and had a chance to win as Smith's second attempt was off the mark, but Hill's shot missed at the buzzer, sending the game into a second extra session.

Hill led EIU with a career-high 35 points, on 16-of-29 shooting from the floor, and 12 rebounds to pace three Panthers in double figures.

After Bradford's two baskets gave NU a four-point lead, Hill scored the last of his 35 points to cut the NU lead to 80-78. Kimani Friend's free throw gave the Huskers a 81-78 lead with 11 seconds remaining, allowing EIU a final chance to send the game into a third overtime, but Henry Domercant's 3-pointer was off the mark and Walker grabbed the rebound, ending the upset bid.