Husker Rally Falls Short in 61-54 loss to Creighton

Omaha, Neb. ? Nebraska and Creighton put on a show in front of the the largest college basketball crowd in state history, but the Huskers fell 61-54 to their in-state rivals in front of 15,561 at Qwest Center OMAHA Wednesday evening.

The Huskers, who fell to 5-1 with the loss, showed heart, rallying from 10-point second-half deficit to within 57-54 on Andrew Drevo’s three-pointer with 18.8 seconds remaining, but could not finish the comeback. Nate Funk hit a pair of free throws with 17.4 seconds remaining before Johnny Mathies’ steal and layup provided the final margin.

Drevo was had his best performance of the season, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds while single-handedly keeping the visitors within striking distance throughout the second half. The 6-8 senior from Lincoln hit 9-of-16 from the floor and also blocked a pair of shots, as he nearly duplicated his double-double against Creighton in Lincoln from a year ago.

The Bluejays, who improved to 5-0 on the season and won their 22nd straight home game, took control of the contest in the final minutes of the first half. CU using a 10-0 run over the final 3:38 of the half to break a 23-all tie and give the Bluejays a 33-23 halfime cushion.

Drevo, who scored the Huskers’ first nine points of the second half, kept the visitors in the contest, but Creighton had a balanced attack. Three players finished in double figures, to keep the lead between seven and 10 points for most of the half.

Trailing 50-40, baskets by Corey Simms and Jake Muhleisen and a free throw by Drevo put NU within five with just over seven minutes remaining, but the Huskers went cold. NU went scoreless over the next 4:13 as the hosts built the lead back to 10 points at 55-45 with 3:23 remaining.

Nebraska came right back with a final run of its own, scoring the next six point to get within 55-51 on a three-pointer by Muhleisen, who finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, with 43 seconds. The Huskers got to within three, but CU, which hit 13-of-18 from the foul line, kept NU at bay by hitting its final four free throws in the last 30 seconds.

Brody Deren and Nate Funk tied for team-high honors with 13 points apiece for Creighton,which out-rebounded NU by a 28-25 margin and committed only 11 turnovers.

The Huskers return home on Saturday, Dec. 13, when they play host to the Tennessee Volunteers beginning at 2:05 p.m.

Husker Rally Falls Short in 61-54 loss to Creighton

Omaha, Neb. ? Nebraska and Creighton put on a show in front of the the largest college basketball crowd in state history, but the Huskers fell 61-54 to their in-state rivals in front of 15,561 at Qwest Center OMAHA Wednesday evening.

The Huskers, who fell to 5-1 with the loss, showed heart, rallying from 10-point second-half deficit to within 57-54 on Andrew Drevo’s three-pointer with 18.8 seconds remaining, but could not finish the comeback. Nate Funk hit a pair of free throws with 17.4 seconds remaining before Johnny Mathies’ steal and layup provided the final margin.

Drevo was had his best performance of the season, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds while single-handedly keeping the visitors within striking distance throughout the second half. The 6-8 senior from Lincoln hit 9-of-16 from the floor and also blocked a pair of shots, as he nearly duplicated his double-double against Creighton in Lincoln from a year ago.

The Bluejays, who improved to 5-0 on the season and won their 22nd straight home game, took control of the contest in the final minutes of the first half. CU using a 10-0 run over the final 3:38 of the half to break a 23-all tie and give the Bluejays a 33-23 halfime cushion.

Drevo, who scored the Huskers’ first nine points of the second half, kept the visitors in the contest, but Creighton had a balanced attack. Three players finished in double figures, to keep the lead between seven and 10 points for most of the half.

Trailing 50-40, baskets by Corey Simms and Jake Muhleisen and a free throw by Drevo put NU within five with just over seven minutes remaining, but the Huskers went cold. NU went scoreless over the next 4:13 as the hosts built the lead back to 10 points at 55-45 with 3:23 remaining.

Nebraska came right back with a final run of its own, scoring the next six point to get within 55-51 on a three-pointer by Muhleisen, who finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, with 43 seconds. The Huskers got to within three, but CU, which hit 13-of-18 from the foul line, kept NU at bay by hitting its final four free throws in the last 30 seconds.

Brody Deren and Nate Funk tied for team-high honors with 13 points apiece for Creighton,which out-rebounded NU by a 28-25 margin and committed only 11 turnovers.

The Huskers return home on Saturday, Dec. 13, when they play host to the Tennessee Volunteers beginning at 2:05 p.m.