Ffriend's Double-Double Helps Huskers End Road Skid

Manhattan, Kan. (AP) - Kimani Ffriend blocked two shots in the final 13 seconds as Nebraska held on for a 63-61 victory over Kansas State on Tuesday night, snapping the Huskers' 18-game road losing streak.

Nebraska, which hadn't won on the road since Feb. 10, 1999, took a 62-61 lead when Cookie Belcher, the NCAA's active steals leader, swiped the ball and fed John Robinson inside for an easy bucket.

The Wildcats (8-10, 2-5 Big 12) had three shots in the final 28.3 seconds. Phineas Atchison missed, but Steffon Bradord was called for traveling after grabbing the rebound and Kansas State inbounded again with 13 seconds to go.

Ffriend, a 6-foot-11 center, blocked Larry Reid's short jumper but the Wildcats retained possession and inbounded with 7.2 seconds left.

This time, Richie Terry drove inside but Ffriend swatted the ball away for Nebraska (10-10, 3-4).

With one second left, Ffriend made a free throw and the jubilant Huskers hugged and high-fived when the buzzer brought an official end to their long road skid.

Kansas State, which led 36-28 at halftime, was just 7-of-27 from the field in the second half.

Belcher had 15 points for the Huskers while Ffriend had 13 points, 14 rebounds and tied a career-high with seven blocked shots. Reid had 18 points for Kansas State. Atchison, who had 28 points against Kansas last week, was scoreless the first half and wound up with 10.

Atchison's 3-pointer put Kansas State on top 43-36 with 5:17 left, then the Huskers went on a 13-0 run, capped by 3-pointers by Belcher and Kevin Augustine.

A few minutes later, the Huskers were leading by eight when Atchison climaxed an 8-0 run with a long 3-pointer that tied it 50-all.

Reid was 4-for-4 from the foul line while scoring 13 points in the first half, helping the Wildcats take a 36-28 halftime lead. Kansas State, gunning for its seventh straight victory over Nebraska in Manhattan, led by as many as 10 in the first half before Belcher and Ffriend led the Huskers on a 14-3 run.

The Huskers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 3, when NU plays host to Colorado, beginning at 1p.m.