LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Terran Petteway scored 25 points, making six 3-pointers, and 21st-ranked Nebraska opened with an 80-61 victory over Northern Kentucky on Sunday.

Shavon Shields had 11 of his 18 points in the second half and made all 10 of his free throws. David Rivers added 12 points.

Freshman Tayler Persons led the Norse with 13 points. Anthony Monaco, averaging 2.5 points in 51 career games, matched his career high with 12, all on 3-pointers.

The Atlantic Sun’s Northern Kentucky (0-2) lost its opener 62-31 at third-ranked Wisconsin on Friday and was outscored by a combined 50 points by the Big Ten opponents.

Nebraska, ranked for the first time since January 1995, returned all but one contributor from the team that went on a surge the second half of last season to finish fourth in the Big Ten and make the NCAA tournament.