Derrick Walker had career highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Nebraska to a 75-58 win over Florida State in the ESPN Events Invitational Sunday night.
Walker led five Huskers (4-3) in double figures with 20 points on 10-of-12 shooting and matched his career high in rebounds, as Nebraska put five in double figures in snapping a two-game losing streak.
Keisei Tominaga, C.J. WIlcher and Sam Griesel added 13 points apiece, as Nebraska shot 50 percent from the floor and dished out a season-high 22 assists. Griesel had a season-best nine assists and scored nine of his 11 second-half points in a decisive 13-2 run that pushed a 37-32 lead into a 16-point advantage.
Leading 37-32, Walker’s dunk ignited the run before Griesel had a four-point play and a 3-pointer in back-to-back possessions, as NU stretched the lead to 50-34. The Huskers built a 19-point lead before the Seminoles (1-6) made one last run, stringing together nine straight points to pull with 59-49 after a 3-pointer from Cam’Ron Fletcher with just under eight minutes remaining.
That would be as close as Florida State would get, as Juwan Gary’s baseline dunk started a 12-2 surge that stretched the lead to 71-51 after a Walker basket with 3:39 left and cruised to an 18-point margin.
In the first half, Nebraska took control in the final five minutes to take a 33-26 lead into the break. NU had balanced scoring with Tominaga coming off the bench for nine points while Walker and Wilcher added eight apiece for the Huskers.
Nebraska trailed 15-9 with just over 13 minutes left in the half before Walker and Tominaga combined for eight points in a 10-0 spurt to give the Huskers a 19-15 lead after a Tominaga jumper. NU held the Seminoles scoreless for nearly five minutes in the stretch. Florida State fought back and took a 24-21 lead on Matthew Cleveland’s basket with 5:26 left, but Nebraska would respond. A Wilcher 3-pointer started a 12-2 spurt over the final 5:14 of the half as Juwan Gary’s steal and layup put NU up 33-26. NU held FSU to 1-of-5 shooting and forced seven of the Seminoles’ 14 first-half turnovers in the final 5:14 of the half.
Cleveland led Florida State with 17 points, as the shot 39 percent and committed 19 turnovers which led to 17 Husker points.
The Huskers return home on Wednesday to take on Boston College in the ACC/Big ten Challenge.