Nebraska, St. Joseph’s Advance To Nit Title Game

NIT

Nebraska continued its hot postseason shooting in a 90-78 victory over Tulane on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden and will play for the National Invitation Tournament championship.

Erick Strickland and Bernard Garner each scored 20 points for the Cornhuskers (20-14), who will meet St. Joseph’s for the title on Thursday night at MSG.

The Cornhuskers shot 57 percent Tuesday after having shot 54 percent over the first three games of the tournament, including a second-round win over Washington State.

Nebraska took control for a while in both halves, but Tulane (21-10) was able to make a run each time. There was no third run for the Green Wave, who drew to 71-68 with 5 minutes, 41 seconds left by scoring nine straight.

Nebraska, which never trailed, took a 17-6 lead and led 39-26 with 4:16 left in the first half.

St. Joseph’s 74, Alabama 69 (OT)

Will Johnson’s three-point play 38 seconds into overtime put the Hawks ahead for good.

St. Joseph’s (19-12), which led by 17 at halftime, found itself forced into overtime at 65-all when Eric Washington capped Alabama’s (19-12) comeback by hitting a 3-pointer with 7 seconds left in regulation.

The Crimson Tide had a chance to tie the game again in overtime, but freshman Brian Williams missed a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left. Three seconds later, Reggie Townsend made two free throws for St. Joe’s.

Terrell Myers led St. Joseph’s with 20 points, although he did not score during the final 13 minutes.