Basketball: Webster helps Cornhuskers to advance

Tai Webster playing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Photo / Getty Images

On Thursday Nebraska University Cornhuskers took on Rutgers University in Big Ten Tournament action and with Tai Webster shooting 7 from 11 Nebraska, seeded 11th, were too good for the 14th seeds winning 89-72.

The Huskers held a narrow 37-33 advantage at half time but with the aid of a 7-0 run they extended the advantage to 60-45, midway through the second half, before easing to a win.

Webster was quickly into his work scoring a dozen first half points, eventually finishing with 18 for Nebraska. The Tall Blacks guard played a team high 32 minutes during which he added 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a pair of steals.

Following the game Webster was asked if it was a relief for the team to get the win after finishing the regular season with a five game losing streak.

"No, not at all. I think do the job of staying positive and always have it in the back of our minds that we can make a run, because we know what type of team we are and the time we have. So not really."

Getting 16 points in the first half off turnovers helped the Nebraska cause and the former Westlake Boys standout was pleased with his team's defensive effort.

"I think we are doing a good job on defense. They had a couple of tough shots at hand, at the end of the shot clock and stuff like that. But I think we just stayed down and stuck with it and, in the end, we started to see separation."

With games played 24 hours apart Nebraska moves on to face Wisconsin (seeded 6th) on Friday (NZT) in quarterfinal action.

Also on Friday Jack Salt and the University of Virginia Cavaliers begin Atlantic Coast play-off proceedings against Georgia Tech.

In women's action California State University Northridge fell at the first hurdle in Big West Tournament play on Wednesday. The Matadors finish the season with a 7-24 record after going down 72-51 against Cal Poly. Cantabrian forward Tessa Boagni had 4 points and 4 boards for the Matadors.