Huskers Shoot Past Scarlet Knights

Update on Shavon Shields (5 p.m.)

Shavon Shields scored seven of his 17 points in an 18-1 spurt, as Nebraska broke a three-game losing streak with an 87-63 win over Rutgers on Saturday.

The Huskers (13-11, 5-6 Big Ten) clamped down on the defensive end, holding Rutgers without a field goal for the final 7:35 of the half, as Nebraska turned a 33-27 deficit into an 11-point lead just before the half. Consecutive 3-pointers by Shields and Michael Jacobson started the run before Shields’ layup with 4:25 left in the half gave the hosts the lead for good.

While Shields, who later left the game with an injury and was taken to a local hospital before being released, helped with the run, it was NU’s balance which keyed the win. Four Huskers finished in double figures, including 21 points from Andrew White III, while freshmen posts Michael Jacobson (13 points, five boards) and Ed Morrow Jr. (10 points, seven rebounds). Glynn Watson Jr. nearly joined them in double figures, as he finished with eight points while dishing out a career-high nine assists.

In all, Nebraska shot 51 percent from the floor and had 22 assists, the most by NU in five seasons, while forcing 14 Rutgers turnovers as the Scarlet Knights were held to 41 percent shooting.

Rutgers stayed in the game behind the play of Corey Sanders, who finished with a game-high 28 points and five assists, including 16 in the first half.

Nebraska pushed the lead to 15 by running off the first six points of the second half to build a 51-36 lead, and Rutgers was never able to slice the lead to single figures.

In the first half, Nebraska built a 19-15 lead, only to see Rutgers come back and outscore NU, 17-8 behind Sanders, who had 10 points in the run. Rutgers (6-18, 0-11 Big Ten) led 33-27 after consecutive 3-pointers by Sanders and Omari Grier forced a Husker timeout.

Nebraska returns to action Wednesday evening, as the Huskers travel to Wisconsin. Tipoff from the Kohl Center is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised by BTN and carried on the Husker Sports Network.

Remarks from Nebraska Head Coach Tim Miles and Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer R.J. Pietig after today’s game with Rutgers regarding Nebraska forward Shavon Shields, who was carted off the court midway through the second half of today’s game with Rutgers and taken to a local hospital. An update is now at the top of the page.

R.J. Pietig: Shavon Shields is at the emergency room right now, he’s about to start further testing. (It is) kind of the same status as when he left Pinnacle Bank Arena. He’s alert, he’s awake, has sensation in his hands and in his feet, and I guess at this time we don’t know too much other than we’ll be going for further testing and we just have to wait to see what comes from those.”

Did he lose consciousness?

Pietig: Yes he did. He was out roughly a minute, because when I got to the floor he was unconscious and once coach got there and Dr. (David) Clare arrived he came back to within a few seconds.

Coach Miles: He didn’t recall anything that had happened.

Was that his mom (who came out to the court)?

Coach Miles: Yes, I asked his mom (Senia) to come out.

He could move his arms and legs?

Pietig: Yes, he had movement and sensation in his arms and his legs.

On the court?

Pietig: On the court, as well as off the court.

Coach Miles: He didn’t move because we told him not to move, so he was just following directions. Obviously, you want to take as much precaution as you can in that situation so some people are like “he didn’t move, he didn’t move” well that’s because he was just following directions and it was for his welfare.