LINCOLN, Neb. -- Sophomore guard Shavon Shields and sophomore forward Terran Petteway scored 26 points apiece, and Nebraska defeated No. 9 Wisconsin 77-68 before a school-record crowd of 15,998 on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska (19-11, 11-7 Big Ten) won eight of their last nine regular-season games and clinched sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings, along with a No. 4 seed in next week's Big Ten tournament.
With the win against a Wisconsin team that boasted the best RPI of any Big Ten team, the Cornhuskers solidified their resume for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. Nebraska last made the NCAA field in 1998.
Wisconsin (25-6, 12-6) had its eight-game winning streak snapped and its hope for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament damaged.
Junior center Frank Kaminksy scored 14 points to lead four Badgers in double figures, but Wisconsin couldn't maintain its offensive efficiency from the first half, when it shot 54.2 percent. The Badgers hit just 34.4 percent from the floor in the second half.
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Nebraska trailed by seven early in the second half but rallied for a 47-46 lead on a step-back Shields jumper with 13:21 remaining.
Wisconsin came back for a 52-48 lead, but Nebraska responded with a
7-0 run, with a 3-pointer by senior guard Ray Gallegos giving the Huskers a one-point lead and a Shields dunk stretching the margin to three.
Shields, triple-teamed at the post, then fed sophomore forward Walter Pitchford, who sank a 3-pointer from the corner, and Petteway added a driving basket for a 60-53 lead.
Wisconsin got within 60-57 on freshman forward Nigel Hayes' dunk, but Nebraska sophomore guard Benny Parker hit an open jumper, Pitchford hit another 3 for a 65-57 lead with 3:08 remaining, and the Huskers were never seriously threatened thereafter.
NOTES: Wisconsin clinched the No. 2 seed in this week's Big Ten tournament with Michigan State's loss to Ohio State on Sunday.
Neb. 77, No. 11 Wisconsin 68
WISCONSIN (68) Brust 4-10 0-0 10, Gasser 2-6 5-6 11, Kaminsky 5-14 2-4 14, Tv.Jackson 2-6 2-3 8, Dekker 3-9 0-0 6, N.Hayes 5-6 2-7 12, Dukan 3-5 0-1 7, B.Koenig 0-0 0-0 0, V.Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 11-21 68.
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NEBRASKA (77) Gallegos 2-4 0-0 6, Shields 10-17 6-7 26, Petteway 7-16 11-14 26, Be.Parker 2-4 0-0 4, Pitchford 5-7 2-4 15, D.Rivers 0-0 0-0 0, Ll.Smith 0-0 0-0 0, T.Webster 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-50 19-25 77.
Wisconsin 35 33 -- 68
Nebraska 33 44 -- 77
3-Point Goals Wisconsin 9-20 (Tv.Jackson 2-2, Gasser 2-3, Brust 2-6, Kaminsky 2-6, Dukan 1-2, Dekker 0-1), Nebraska 6-11 (Pitchford 3-5, Gallegos 2-3, Petteway 1-3). Fouled out N.Hayes. Rebounds Wisconsin 35 (Gasser 9), Nebraska 31 (Petteway 10). Assists Wisconsin 14 (Gasser 5), Nebraska 9 (Petteway, Gallegos, Shields, Be.Parker 2). Total Fouls Wisconsin 18 (N.Hayes 5), Nebraska 17 (Pitchford, Be.Parker 4). A--15,998.
