Nebrasketball: Win Over Wildcats Provides Momentum

After the jubilation of Wednesday’s win over Minnesota, the Husker hopeful were praying that momentum could be sustained with a Saturday night tilt with Northwestern. The Wildcats, on the other hand, had lost five straight and were looking to get back over .500 by beating the Huskers.

If you watched the game, you know Isaiah Roby had something to say about that.

The game started off back and forth until a quick seven to two Husker run put the good guys up 14-9. Another back-and-forth effort put the score at 23-19, Huskers with seven and a half left in the first. With six minutes left, James Palmer Jr. (who finished 3-17, 0-6 from three with 13 points) was fouled while shooting a three and made all three of his shots from the charity stripe, putting Nebraska up 26-19.

Best part of the game so far? Eight of Nebraska’s nine made field goal attempts were assisted on.

Three minutes would go by without another Husker bucket. Yet, unlike most Nebraska droughts, their defensive stood tall during it, only allowing two points. An Amir Harris dunk ended that rut and helped the Huskers go up 28-23 as half closed.

All but one of the Husker made field goals in that half were assisted on. Not a lot of points at half, and not even a great shooting percentage, but the offense was moving around and passing better than we have seen in a long while.

The second half got underway and we would see back-to-back-back threes between both teams, with one for Nebraska, via Roby, and two for the Wildcats.

Northwestern would eventually claw themselves to a 36-35 lead, which was quickly silenced by another Roby three-pointer.

Trading buckets up to 42-41, it was a six to nothing run led by Thomas Allen that would give the Huskers the lead, 48-41, and for good. Nebraska would score 11 more to the Wildcats nine and get their second-straight W.

Something I didn’t mention? Isaiah Roby’s blocks. I just wanted to show you instead. He finished with 19 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks, two assists and two steals (and no fouls!)

Huskers take on Penn State at State College on Tuesday.

Final: Huskers 59, Northwestern 50