Tigers Top Huskers, 67-50

COLUMBIA, Mo. ---- Nate Johnson scored 17 points and Andrew Drevo added 14 for Nebraska, as the Huskers dropped a 67-50 decision to Missouri Tuesday evening at the Hearnes Center. With the loss, Nebraska fell to 9-15 on the season and 1-10 in league play, while the 22nd-ranked (Coaches' poll) Tigers improved to 16-6 overall and 7-4 in Big 12 play.

The Huskers started out strong, as Drevo hit his first three shots, including a pair of three-pointers, to give NU an early 10-8 lead. After tying it at 12-all, Missouri's Ricky Clemons hit a three-pointer with 13:56 left before intermission to give the Tigers the lead for good. Clemons, who led all scorers with 20 points in the contest, hit 6-of-12 attempts from long range.

Clemons' effort helped MU to 13 treys on the night, including nine prior to intermission. MU hit just 4-of-23 three-point attempts in the first meeting with the Huskers this season. The 36 attempts were one off NU's opponent record, while the 13 treys were the the most by an opponent this season. Only Creighton, which hit 10 threes, had recorded double-figure three-pointers against Nebraska prior to Tuesday's contest.

Missouri opened an 11-point lead, 26-15, at the 9:47 mark of the first half before NU started to make a comeback. The Huskers went on a 7-0 run behind a trey from Drevo and buckets from Johnson and Wesley Wilkinson that cut the lead to four, 26-22, with seven minutes to play in the opening period.

Arthur Johnson then made a basket for the Tigers and Jimmy McKinney, Clemons and Josh Kroenke added three-pointers to push the lead back to double figures, 37-22. NU scored the final six points of the half, including four by Johnson, to go into the break down just nine, 37-28.

Following a three by McKinney to open the second frame, NU senior Brennon Clemmons hit a trey to cut MU's lead to back to nine less than 30 seconds later, but the Huskers went cold from the field over the next 12 minutes. Missouri took advantage, as it reeled off a 20-6 run to open a 60-39 lead with 7:32 to play before closing out the game.

Nate Johnson led the Huskers by hitting 8-of-15 shots from the field for 17 points while tying his season-high with six rebounds. Drevo had 14 points and seven boards while Corey Simms added nine points and seven boards.

The Huskers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 22, when they hit the road to take on Baylor in Waco, Texas. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. and can be heard on the Pinnacle Sports Network and Huskers.com.