Time and again, Nebraska got right to the rim for easy baskets off of drives. Tim Miles’ squad shot 44.7 percent and hit 12-of-17 free throws. Conversely, Purdue shot 40 percent and hit just 7-of-14 free throws. That basically was the difference in a close game. The Huskers had a two-point halftime lead that they pushed to 11 at one point in the second half.

Shavon Shields scored 19 points, Brandon Ubel added 16 points and eight rebounds and Nebraska beat Purdue 57-55 Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. The Cornhuskers (15-17) hung on after Purdue’s Terone Johnson missed two shots in the closing seconds and will meet No. 10 Ohio State in the quarterfinals on Friday.

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The first day of the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament had it’s share of excitement. Illinois beat Minnesota 51-49 with a Brandon Paul jumper at the buzzer while Michigan handled Penn State, 83-66. Later, No. 7 Purdue fell to No. 10 Nebraska, 57-55. The last game of the night: No. 6 Iowa eliminates No. 11 Northwestern. 

See part one of our discussion here.