Huskies Drop Nit Opener Nebraska’s Traps Create Frenzied Pace To Down UW 67-63

Two things went right for NIT defending champion Nebraska Wednesday night.

The Cornhuskers advanced to the second round of this year’s tournament and an ankle injury to their leading scorer turned out to be a mild ankle sprain.

Tyronn Lue had to be helped to the locker room but returned for the final seconds of the game against Washington, which Nebraska won 67-63.

“It was just a sprain,” Nebraska coach Danny Nee said after the game. “I don’t even know how he did it.”

That was a relief to Nee, who had lost his point guard with 1:22 remaining and the Huskers nursing a 65-61 lead.

The Huskies cut the deficit to two points at 65-63 when Jamie Booker hit two free throws with 32 seconds remaining.

Nebraska senior Mikki Moore, who for the first time this season did not start, hit a free throw with 12 seconds left to push the lead to three. Garner added another with three seconds left to provide the final margin.

“We had a balanced attack and a lot of people wanted to win,” Nee said. “I was pleased with the way we came back and beat a quality team.”

Nebraska (17-14) will meet Nevada at a date and site to be determined. Washington finished the season 17-11.

“Nebraska really did a good job of rattling us with the press, and that was the turning point of the game,” Washington coach Bob Bender said. “All year we’ve had problems with that and we did again tonight.”

Cookie Belcher was a key part of Nebraska’s trapping defense with six of the Huskers’ 15 steals. Washington committed 22 turnovers.

“We’ve used it (the trap) all year, and tonight it really paid off,” Nee said. “It worked tonight to create a frenzy and put the crowd in it. It really disrupted them.”

Lue, who averaged 19 points per game, led the Huskers offense with 14 points. Venson Hamilton added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“With Lue, they have a guy who can handle the ball and control things,” Bender said. “With the big men they have inside, they can intimidate, and they can score. They have the weapons to do well in the tournament and win it.”

Mark Sanford led Washington with 20 points. Todd MacCulloch added 17 points, and Booker had 12.

The Huskies used a 14-2 run to take a 32-28 lead before Lue answered with a 3-point shot with 3:38 remaining in the first half. Sanford scored 14 points, and MacCulloch had 11 to help Washington get a 36-33 halftime lead.

Nebraska 67, Washington 63

Washington (17-11) - Sanford 8-15 3-5 20, MacCulloch 7-11 3-5 17, Booker 3-7 4-4 12, Wooten 2-4 0-0 4, Luton 2-5 0-2 4, Femerling 1-1 2-2 4, Watts 1-7 0-1 2, Thompson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-51 12-19 63.

Nebraska (17-14) - Lue 5-15 2-2 14, Hamilton 4-4 5-6 13, Garner 3-5 1-2 9, Belcher 4-5 0-0 9, Moore 4-6 1-2 9, Florence 2-4 2-3 6, Piatkowski 2-5 0-0 4, Markowski 1-8 1-2 3. Totals 25-52 12-17 67.

Halftime-Washington 36, Nebraska 33. 3-Point goals- Washington 3-13 (Booker 2-3, Sanford 1-3, Wooten 0-2, Luton 0-2, Watts 0-3), Nebraska 5-13 (Garner 2-2, Lue 2-6, Belcher 1-2, Piatkowski 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Washington 37 (Sanford 13), Nebraska 26 (Hamilton 10). Assists-Washington 16 (Watts, Booker 4), Nebraska 14 (Lue, Moore 4). Total fouls- Washington 15, Nebraska 16. A-6,015.