New York City – Tai Webster’s 18 point led five Huskers in double figures, as Nebraska shot 60 percent in the second half to post an 82-71 win over Tennessee in the third-place game of the Barclays Center Classic.
Webster, who earned all-tournament honors after averaging 19.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in Brooklyn, led a balanced attack for Nebraska, which improved to 5-2 on the season with the win.
While Webster continued his strong play in Brooklyn, sophomore Jake Hammond put together the best game of his career with 11 points and 10 rebounds, setting career highs in both categories enroute to his first career double double.
Hammond’s effort helped NU enjoy a 46-30 advantage on the glass and limited the Volunteers (4-3) to 35 percent shooting.
Andrew White III keyed NU’s second half surge, scoring all 15 of his points after halftime, as Nebraska built a 22-point lead and withstood a late UT rally. Shavon Shields and Glynn Watson Jr. added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the winners, as Nebraska shot 49 percent from the field, including 6-of-13 from 3-point range.
Behind strong first-half performances from Hammond and Webster, Nebraska surged in the final five minutes of the first half to take a 40-32 lead into the locker room.
Hammond totaled eight points and eight boards in 11 minutes, while Webster scored five of his 11 first-half points in a 13-1 run late in the first half. Trailing 27-26 in a game that neither team led by more than four in the opening 15 minutes, Nebraska took control behind Webster, who scored five of his points in the run, capped by his backdoor layup to extend the lead to 39-28.
In all, the Huskers held Tennessee to 36 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Vols, 27-18, while overcoming foul trouble by Shields and White, who combined for two first-half points.
Nebraska came out firing in the second half, hitting eight of its first 10 shots to build a 21-point lead at 62-41 with 12:03 left. White was the catalyst for the Huskers, hitting five straight shots from the field, including a trio of 3-pointers.
Tennessee would roar back, using a 10-2 run of its own to cut the Husker lead to 64-51 with 9:55 remaining. The Volunteers would cut the deficit to 11, at 71-60, but Nebraska kept extending it back, taking a 80-65 lead on a Shields basket with 2:48 remaining.
The Volunteers would make one last charge, running off six straight points to pull within 80-71 with 1:35 left and had a chance to get closer on their next possession, but Devon Baulkman missed and Jack McVeigh grabbed the rebound with 41 seconds left. McVeigh missed both free throws, but got the offensive board, allowing the Huskers to run more time off the clock before Watson’s two free throws with 25 seconds left iced the contest.
Kevin Punter led three Volunteer players in double figures with a game-high 23 points.
The Huskers return home Tuesday night to host No. 15 Miami in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. A limited number of tickets for the ESPNU broadcast are available by visiting Huskers.com or calling the NU Athletic Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED Monday morning. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.