Nebraska's Steffon Bradford and Kimani Friend battle Northwestern's Brody Deren during the Wildcats' loss, Saturday.Nebraska's Steffon Bradford and Kimani Friend battle Northwestern's Brody Deren during the Wildcats' loss, Saturday.

Men's Basketball Falls to Cornhuskers, 61-52

Nov. 27, 1999

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) - Danny Walker scored 19 points, including nine free throws, as Nebraska beat Northwestern 61-52 Saturday in the consolation semifinals of the USBWA Hoop and Quill Classic.

Nebraska (2-1) held Northwestern (1-2) scoreless for nearly eight minutes in the second half, but scored just four points over the same stretch to take a 40-31 lead with 8:35 remaining.

The Wildcats' Steve Lepore then hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to bring Northwestern within six, 40-34.

Ben Johnson's two 3-pointers whittled the Huskers lead to 49-46, but Nebraska hit 12 free throws in the closing 2 minutes to seal the victory.

The Cornhuskers led at halftime 31-24.

Lepore had 19 points and Johnson 18 for Northwestern.

Nebraska will play Rutgers in the consolation championship, and Northwestern will play Mississippi State in the seventh-place game, Sunday.