Despite Leslee J. Smith’s season high in points and rebounds along with three Huskers in double figures with 14 points, Illinois pulled away in the final minutes for a 69-57 win over the Huskers on Wednesday March 4, 2015. Photo: Provided

Leslee J. Smith in action. Photo: Provided

Smith trying to defend against an opposing player during a game. Photo: Provided

Ravonte Rice scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer with 1:30 left after Nebraska was within 56-50. Rice got a tough shot over Shavon Shields as the shot clock went down, breaking open a game that was back and forth for a good portion of the second half.

The Huskers (13-16, 5-12), had three players finish in double figures, as Terran Petteway added 13 points, while David Rivers finished with 10 points and five rebounds. A fourth Husker was nearly in double figures, as Leslee J. Smith had season bests in both points (eight) and rebounds (nine).

In all, Illinois won the game from the 3-point line and the foul line, as the hosts went 7-of-16 from long range and 20-23 from the line, compared to just 4-of-5 for Nebraska. Both teams shot 43 percent from the field, and the Illini held a slim 31-28 advantage on the glass.

With the score tied at 44, Rice hit a basket and a pair of free throws with 9:08 left put the hosts up by four. Nebraska cut the deficit to 46-44 after a Smith basket, but a Kendrick Nunn 3-pointer and an Ahmad Starks basket push the lead to seven points and forced a Husker timeout.

Nunn and Leron Black added 11 points while Malcolm Hill chipped in 10 points for the victors.

Smith had season bests in both points (eight) and rebounds (nine), topping his previous best of seven apiece against Michigan State. He added 2 assists, a block and one steal.

Nebraska would not go away, cutting the deficit to 53-48 after a Benny Parker layup with 5:48 left and got to 55-50 after a David Rivers basket with 3:58 left. That would be as close as Nebraska would get, as Rice 3-pointer was the backbreaker for the Huskers.

The Huskers stayed within striking distance in the first half, holding Illinois to 35 percent shooting in trailing 31-25 at the break. Petteway had seven points, while Leslee Smith had six points and five boards in the opening half. Leron Black provided the Illini a spark with nine points off the bench in the first half, including 5-of-6 from the line.

The Huskers got off to a solid start, using an early 9-0 run behind the play of Leslee Smith, who had four points and four boards, as the Huskers took a 9-3 lead after a David Rivers jumper with 15:12 left in the half.

Nebraska led 12-8 after a Shields’ 3-pointer with 12:03 left in the half, but the Illini ran off seven straight points to take a 15-12 lead and force a Husker timeout with 8:17 left in the half.

The hosts pushed the lead to 17-12 after a Nunn dive, but Nebraska would come back with two free throws by Petteway to end the run before a Shields putback pulled the Huskers within 17-16 with 6:27 left in the half.

The Illini, who had one field goal in the final four minutes of the half, kept the lead with solid shooting from the line, hitting 10-of-11 from the charity stripe in the opening half. Illinois built a 28-21 lead after a pair of Jaylon Tate free throws, but Nebraska would not go away, cutting the lead to six at the break after a layup from David Rivers barely beat the buzzer.

Nebraska quickly roared back into the contest, as a Petteway jumper and two buckets by Shields tied the score at 31 with 17:51 left to force an Illini timeout. Shields, who scored seven straight for the Huskers, hit a 3-pointer to give the Huskers a 34-31 lead before Rivers’ basket pushed the lead to five with 16:32 left.

Illinois came back, as a 3-pointer from Rive sparked a 6-0 run, as the Illini took a 37-36 lead on a putback by Black with 13:20 left. The teams traded baskets as a Pettway jumper gave NU a 40-39 lead with 12:01 left before Rice’s third 3-pointer of the night put the hosts back up front.