Husker Rally Falls Short

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? The Nebraska basketball team trimmed a 16-point halftime deficit to two in the closing seconds, but the Huskers could not overcome a strong shooting performance from UMBC as the Retrievers never trailed in a 66-64 victory on Tuesday night at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Nebraska had cut its largest halftime deficit of the season in half nine minutes into the second period to give itself a chance at the come-from-behind victory. The Huskers pulled to within three on three occasions in the final 1:13.

After Brandon Richardson knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 66-63, a UMBC turnover gave the Huskers the ball with 21 seconds remaining. Paul Velander, who hit three second-half 3-pointers to fuel the comeback, missed an open look that would have tied the game with 14 seconds left.

Velander’s miss caromed around for a few seconds before Steve Harley emerged with the ball near halfcourt and aggressively attacked the basket to draw a two-shot foul with five seconds showing on the clock. Harley nailed the first attempt before purposely missing the second and the Huskers retained possession when the ball was tipped out of bounds by UMBC.

The Huskers had one final chance with 2.3 seconds remaining and Harley wiggled free on the inbounds pass, but his point-blank shot to send the game into overtime was blocked by Darryl Proctor with just 0.1 second remaining.

Nebraska’s comeback effort was the result of intense defensive pressure down the stretch, as UMBC did not hit a field goal over the final 6:42. The Retrievers won the game at the free throw line by knocking down 15-of-18 from the charity stripe, including their final six attempts. Nebraska attempted seven more free throws but came away with one fewer make, as the Huskers hit just 14-of-25 (56.0 percent) from the line. NU entered last week ranked second in the Big 12 by hitting 73 percent over the first eight games of the year.

The free throw line was not the only place where UMBC excelled on Tuesday. The Retrievers hit 57.1 percent from the field (24-of-42) and 60 percent from behind the arc (3-of-6). Nebraska connected on 15-of-25 second-half shots, but the Huskers shot only 35 percent in the first half.

In addition to his big block, Proctor was huge all night long for UMBC (6-5), finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds, as the Retrievers owned a 32-19 advantage on the glass. Chauncey Gilliam led four Retrievers in double figures with a game-high 21 points as he hit 9-of-11 from the field.

Ade Dagunduro was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field to tie the school single-game record, finishing with a career-high 19 points for the Huskers. Velander added a season-high 14 points, while Harley had 13 and Sek Henry totaled 12 points before fouling out.

With the loss, Nebraska saw its 10-game home winning streak snapped. The Huskers also lost a home non-conference game for the first time under Coach Doc Sadler, while NU’s school-record-tying total of 31 consecutive home non-conference victories was snapped.

A poor first-half performance proved to be the difference, as UMBC raced to a 37-21 halftime lead. UMBC's 37 first-half points tied for the most Nebraska has allowed this season, while the Huskers' 21 points marked their second lowest output of any half this year. The Retrievers hit 62.5 percent of their shots in the period while the Huskers hit just 35 percent.

UMBC drilled its first four shots of the game to jump out to a 9-4 lead. The Huskers missed a chance to cut into the lead by missing four straight free throws before the Retrievers recorded back-to-back baskets. UMBC extended its lead to double digits when Matt Spadafora's three-point play capped a 9-2 run that made the score 18-6.

Velander and Harley knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to cut the deficit in half, before UMBC used a 13-0 run to stretch the lead to 20 points with two minutes left in the half. At that point, the Retrievers had connected on 14-of-23 from the field - including 3-of-5 from long range - while Nebraska had hit only four of its 17 shots.

Although the Retrievers were perfect from the field over the final eight minutes, the Huskers were able to close the halftime deficit to 16, as they made their final three shots to close the period on a modest 7-3 run.

Nebraska (7-3) will close out 2008 next Tuesday, Dec. 30, when the Huskers host South CarolinaState at the DevaneyCenter. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.