Huskers Fall at Northwestern

Evanston, Ill. – Despite a game-high 23 points from Tai Webster, Northwestern pulled away down the stretch for 73-62 victory over the Huskers Thursday evening.

Webster posted his eighth 20-point game of the season with 23 points and six rebounds, while Glynn Watson Jr. added 14, but the Huskers (9-11, 3-5 Big Ten) shot just 37 percent and saw Northwestern pull away with a 16-1 spurt late to open up a close game.

Dererk Pardon led Northwestern with 19 points and 22 rebounds to pace three Wildcats in double figures. Vic Law led Northwestern (17-4, 6-2 Big Ten) with 20 points, while Isiah Brown had 10 points off the bench.

Nebraska pulled to within 34-33 after baskets by Watson and Webster, but Northwestern ran off five straight points, including a 3-pointer from McIntosh, to take a 39-33 lead and force a Husker timeout.  

Trailing 49-37, the Huskers continued to chip away, as baskets from Michael Jacobson and Tai Webster pulled the Huskers within four. NU continued to fight and was within 57-53 after a pair of Watson free throws with 5:12 remaining, but Law took over, scoring nine of his 20 points in a 16 spurt that pushed the lead to 19 before the Huskers made one last charge to cut the deficit to 12.

In a very defensive-oriented first half, Northwestern went to the locker room with a 32-29 lead over the Huskers. Nebraska held Northwestern to 39 percent shooting and nearly matched the Wildcats on the boards, 22-21. Isiah Brown and Dererk Pardon led Northwestern with nine points apiece, while Tai Webster had 11 first-half points for the Big Red.

Northwestern started quickly, hitting four of its first five shots to jump out to an early 12-2 lead behind six points from Vic Law before the Huskers regrouped. Nebraska fought back with a 12-2 run of its own keyed by four points from Glynn Watson Jr. to take a 16-14 lead after a pair of Jordy Tshimanga free throws with 12:59 left in the half.

From that point, the teams would be within six points of each other the rest of the half. Nebraska took a 22-20 lead on a Tai Webster basket with 6:18 left in the half, but Northwestern would use a 7-1 run to take a 27-23 lead after a Pardon putback dunk.

The Huskers pulled to within 27-26 after a Webster 3-pointer, but Brown scored five unanswered points, the last being a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left in the half to spot Northwestern a six-point lead, at 32-26. McVeigh answered with a 3-pointer of his own to pull the Huskers within three at the break.

Nebraska returns to action Sunday afternoon when they host No. 20 Purdue for #AveryStrong Day at Pinnacle Bank Arena. A limited number of tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets or calling 800-8-BIGRED during business hours on Friday. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

Quick Notes
*-Tai Webster finished with 23 points – his ninth 20-point effort of the season. He has been in double figures in 21 straight games dating back to last season.
*-Jordy Tshimanga matched his Big Ten high with seven points and four rebounds
*-Jack McVeigh matched his career high with seven rebounds (also vs. Sacramento State)