Nebraska teams suffer tough night on East Coast

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Brice Williams had a game-high 22 points to lead three Huskers in double figures, but Nebraska suffered an 87-82 overtime setback at Rutgers Wednesday evening.

The Huskers (13-5, 3-4 Big Ten) led 63-51 with 9:39 remaining in regulation after consecutive 3-pointers from Wilcher only to see the Scarlet Knights rally in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

The Huskers had two chances in the final 10 seconds to win, but could not capitalize and get a shot off, sending the game to an extra session.

Williams finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals, while Keisei Tominaga and Wilcher added 16 and 12 points, respectively.

In the extra session, Nebraska tied it at 74 after a Tominaga 3-pointer but Cliff Omoruyi’s basket with 2:58 left in overtime gave the Scarlet Knights the lead for good. Rutgers led 79-74.

NU got to within 83-82 after a pair of 3-pointers by Sam Hoiberg, the last with 20.9 seconds left, but Rutgers Noah Fernandes hit a pair of free throws to make it a 3-point game before Tominaga’s 3-pointer with 10 second left missed, allowing Rutgers to escape.

Creighton

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn wasn’t about to lose its first game after being ranked No. 1 in the regular season for the first time in 15 years.

Tristen Newton scored 16 points and the Huskies (16-2, 6-1 Big East) used a stifling defense Wednesday night to beat No. 18 Creighton, 62-48.

Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban each had 13 points, with all of Karaban’s scoring coming in the second half.

“When you get ranked No. 1 — coach talked about it the entire week — it’s like a temporary belt,” Karaban said. “You’ve got to continue to protect the belt, protect the heavyweight championship.”

Star center Donovan Clingan returned after missing five games with a tendon injury in his right foot. The 7-foot-2 sophomore scored six points with five rebounds in 16 minutes.

Steven Ashworth led Creighton (13-5, 4-3) with 14 points. Baylor Scheierman, who came into the game averaging 18 points a game, added 12 and Ryan Kalkbrenner had 11 points, but took just five shots.

UConn, which has won six straight, dominated down low, outscoring Creighton 36-20 in the paint and outrebounding the Bluejays 48-32.

“We were just tough, man” UConn coach Dan Hurley said.