Huskers Withstand Hornets, 75-60 – North Platte Post Archive

Shavon Shields led the Huskers with 21 points. (Photo Courtesy Nate Olsen/Nebraska Communications) — Shavon Shields led the Huskers with 21 points. *(Photo Courtesy Nate Olsen/Nebraska Communications)*

Behind a game-high 21 points from Shavon Shields and 20 from Andrew White III, Nebraska improved to 2-1 on the season with a 75-60 win over Delaware State Thursday evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Huskers (2-1) built a 25-point second-half lead, only to see the Hornets feverishly cut the deficit to four at 63-59 with 5:09 remaining after a basket from Jason Owens. Shields then ended the nearly seven minute dryspell with a basket before White’s 3-pointer from the wing pushed the lead back to nine, at 68-59, with 4:16 remaining.

In all, the Huskers closed the game on a 12-1 run, all by Shields and White, as Nebraska held DSU without a field goal in the final five minutes.

Shields finished with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds for his 16th career 20-point game. White tied or set a career high for the third straight outing with 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and four rebounds.

In all, the Huskers had 19 assists on 22 field goals and went 12-of-28 from the 3-point line, the most 3-pointers made by a Nebraska team since the 2011-12 season.

Nebraska, which led by 14 at the break, opened the second half on a 19-6 run, as Tai Webster’s 3-pointer gave the Huskers their largest lead of the night, at 63-38 with 11:54 left. From there, the Hornets run off 22 straight points, taking advantage of five Husker turnovers and six straight misses to whittle the lead to four before Shields’ basket steadied the attack.

After falling behind early, Glynn Watson keyed a 7-2 Husker run with five points and an assist, as Nebraska took a 12-11 lead. It took a while for the Huskers to find an offensive groove, but the Huskers ran off seven straight points, as a 3-pointer by Andrew White III gave the Huskers a 27-21 lead.

Delaware State pulled to within 31-26 after a Malik Carter jumper with 4:21 left in the half, but the Huskers took control in the final four minutes. Nebraska closed on a 15-6 surge behind six points from Shields and five from Jack McVeigh, capping the run on Jake Hammond’s tip in to beat the halftime buzzer.

DeAndre Haywood and Todd Hughes led DSU (0-3) with 11 points apiece.

The Huskers return to action Sunday afternoon, as they host Southeastern Louisiana at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. and the game will be televised by BTN and carried on the Husker Sports Radio Network.