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Nebrasketball collapses in second half of Big Ten Semifinals; Falls to Illinois
Nebraska men's basketball looked like a team headed to the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship game. But then the defense stopped defending and the offense became offensive as NU (23-10) blew a 15-poin lead to fall to Illinois (25-8) 98-87 in Minneapolis Saturday.
The Huskers shot 57.6% in the first half, holding the Illini to 35.1% shooting, to build a 51-40 lead at halftime. The script flipped in the second half, with Illinois shooting 59.4% and Nebraska managing just 36.1%.
Illinois also made as many free throws as Nebraska shot in the game: 21-of-26 for the Illini and 15-of-21 for the Huskers.
Brice Williams led NU with 23 points. Keisei Tominaga (18) and Rienk Mast(15) also scored in double figures.
Nebraska now awaits its NCAA Tournament fate with the Selection Show Sunday at 5 p.m. CDT.
