Nebraska Downs Wildcats At Hoop and Quill Classic

St. Charles, Mo. -- Danny Walker scored 19 points, including eight of 10 from the foul line in the final two minutes, as Nebraska beat Northwestern, 61-52, Saturday in the consolation semifinals of the USBWA Hoop and Quill Classic. The Huskers advance to meet Rutgers, which beat Mississippi State 74-69 earlier Saturday, in the consolation finals Sunday afternoon at 3:20 p.m.

The Huskers got an early lift from the return of senior guard Cookie Belcher, who missed the first two games after off-season wrist surgery. With Nebraska trailing 12-10, Belcher triggered an 11-0 run as the Huskers (2-1) took at 31-24 halftime lead. Belcher finished with four points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.

After the Wildcats cut the Husker lead to 36-31, Northwestern was held without a field goal for the next 7:54 as NU extended the lead to 40-31. The Wildcats' Steve Lepore then hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to bring Northwestern within six, 40-34 but NU pushed the lead to 49-40. A pair of Ben Johnson 3-pointers whittled the Huskers lead to 49-46. but the Huskers held on, hitting 12 of 14 foul shots down the stretch, including eight by Walker, who finished with 19 points to pace NU to the win.

Junior Kimani Ffriend added 14 points and four blocks for Nebraska, while Steve Lepore and Johnson finished with 19 and 18 points, respectively for Northwestern. The Wildcats connected on 19-of-56 shots from the floor, becoming the third straight Husker opponent held under 40 percent.

Nebraska will play Rutgers in the consolation championship, and Northwestern will play Mississippi State in the seventh-place game Sunday afternoon.