Leslee Smith's final appearance for Nebraska Huskers at United Center as ended in defeat despite a solid performance from him. Photo: Provided

Leslee Smith had eight boards to help NU enjoy a 51-34 advantage on the glass. Photo: Provided

While Petteway and Shields provided most of the scoring punch for NU, the senior post players Leslee Smith and Moses Abraham gave exceptional efforts in their final appearances as Huskers.

Abraham, who did not play in the first half, stepped in for an injured Walter Pitchford and had a season-high 10 rebounds while Smith had eight boards to help NU enjoy a 51-34 advantage on the glass.

Shavon Shields, who finished with 20 points 10 rebounds and rebounds, had a chance to send the game into overtime but his 3-pointer was just off the mark as Penn State advanced to the second round and ended the Huskers’ season.

Shields and Petteway nearly led the Huskers to a remarkable comeback, as Nebraska (13-18) trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half before rallying in the final 16 minutes. Petteway led the Huskers with 29 points in a losing effort, his 13th 20-point game of the season. 
D.J. Newbill led Penn State with 26 points, including eight in a 14-1 second-half run that broke open a three-point game in the second half. Shep Garner also added 19.

In all, Nebraska shot just 30 percent as Penn State recorded 16 blocks but stayed in the game behind 24 offensive boards, including 14 in the second half.

Early on, it was Petteway who got NU going as the junior scored NU’s first eight points, taking the Huskers to an 8-4 advantage after his second 3-pointer of the afternoon.

Penn State came right back with seven unanswered points to take an 11-8 lead after a Brandon Taylor jumper with 14:29 left in the half.

Nebraska tied the score at 13 after Petteway’s third 3-pointer of the half and was within 18-17 after a Shields’ basket with 8:27 left in the half before PSU pulled away in the final eight minutes of the half behind the play of its guards, as Garner, Newbill and Devin Foster combined for 24 first-half points.

PSU pushed the lead to seven, at 32-25, after four straight points from Foster but NU would close to within five at the break.

PSU stretched the lead to 37-29 after a Garner 3-pointer on the first possession of the second half, but Nebraska would rally, scoring the next five points to pull within 37-34 after a Leslee Smith put-back with 18:24 left.

From there, Penn State seized the momentum with a 14-1 run to stretch the lead to 16 points. The Nittany Lions hit three straight 3-pointers in the run, as Garner’s 3-pointer with 15:45 left to push the lead to 51-35.

Nebraska, which cut a 20-point second-half deficit to three in the first meeting, battled right back, as Tarin Smith jumper started a 14-1 Husker run that helped the Huskers whittle a 16-point deficit to 51-49 after Tai Webster’s 3-pointer with 9:47 left.

PSU then got a little breathing room and stretched the lead to 59-51 after a Gino Thorpe basket, but the Huskers would not go away, as two Petteway free throws and a 3-point play from Shields pulled NU within 59-56 with 5:43 left. NU continued to chip away, as an Abraham putback with 3:54 left made it a two-point game. On the next possession, Shields hit a pair of free throws to pull NU within 63-62 before Newbill’s drive with 2:44 made it a three point game.

Nebraska was within 66-65 after a pair of Petteway’ free throws with 43 seconds left, and got the stop they needed, but could not hold the rebound and the tie-up gave PSU the ball with 5.1 seconds left.

Thorpe then hit a pair of free throws with 4.2 seconds to push the lead back to three.