Shields leads Nebraska over Northwestern 54-47
LINCOLN, Neb. - Shavon Shields had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Nebraska, which took a 10-point lead with 7 minutes left and held on to defeat Northwestern 54-47 Saturday.
With the win, Nebraska (17-11, 9-7 Big Ten) is guaranteed a .500 conference record, a Big Ten first for the Huskers, now in their third season in the conference. Nebraska won nine conference games for the first time since 1998-99 and only the 10th time since World War II.
Northwestern (12-17, 5-11) has now lost six straight games, a streak that began with a 53-49 loss to Nebraska on Feb. 8.
Nebraska took the lead 3½ minutes into the game and never trailed thereafter. Northwestern cut the lead to 31-30 on Drew Crawford's 3-pointer with 11:46 remaining.
A 3-point play by Shields triggered a 13-4 Nebraska run that made the score 44-34 with 7 minutes left.