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Nebraska shocks No. 17 Ohio State

Jan 21, 2014 - 4:11 AM Lincoln, NE (SportsNetwork.com) - Ohio State is suddenly mired in its longest losing streak in nearly six years after being ranked No. 3 in the country just two weeks ago.

Nebraska sent the now-17th-ranked Buckeyes to a fourth straight loss in a surprising 68-62 final at Pinnacle Bank Arena behind Shavon Shields' 18-point, nine-rebound effort.

Terran Petteway also scored 18 points for the Cornhuskers (9-8, 1-4 Big Ten), who shot 15-of-18 from the free throw line down the stretch to snap a five- game skid and earn their first win over the Buckeyes since joining the Big Ten.

Ohio State (15-4, 2-4) rolled over Nebraska, 84-53, on Jan. 4 but has struggled to find any success since, especially offensively. They shot just 39.6 percent from the field in the latest setback, this following a 35.3 percent showing in a loss to Minnesota last Thursday.

"I think the thing I see the most is we are not able to answer the call. ... We are clinging on the mistakes, and you have to play forward with it," Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said.

Aaron Craft netted a team-high 12 points with seven rebounds.

The Cornhuskers had an eight-day layoff since losing at Purdue, and the extra rest was evident in crunch time.

After Ohio State's LaQuinton Ross put in a go-ahead layup near the midway point of the second half, Nebraska held the Buckeyes to one field goal over the next nine minutes.

A Deverell Biggs bucket and two Shields free throws gave Nebraska a 49-46 lead with 3:48 remaining, and the Cornhuskers' efficient free throw shooting coupled with Ohio State's inability to fill the basket ended with the Nebraska student body rushing the court at the buzzer.

"We played as a team, played for each other," Shield said of the win, which snapped Nebraska's 15-game losing streak against ranked opponents. "We put a full 40 minutes together, finally."

Nebraska scored 13 straight points at one point late in the first half, with Leslee Smith's steal and layup over Craft giving the Cornhuskers a 34-20 lead.

Ohio State pulled within nine, 34-25, at halftime, and the adjustments made at the break paid off early, as the Buckeyes scored 13 of the first 15 points. Seven Nebraska turnovers were forced during the 5 1/2-minute run, and Craft's scoop gave Ohio State a 38-36 advantage.

Game Notes

Nebraska had lost nine straight meetings dating back to 1987 ... Ohio State last dropped four in a row from Feb. 17-Mar. 1, 2008 ... The Cornhuskers moved to 8-1 at home ... Ross and teammate Lenzelle Smith Jr. both shot 4-for-12 from the field for 11 and 10 points, respectively ... Nebraska shot 21-of-33 (63.6 percent) from inside the arc and 2-for-13 (15.4 percent) outside it.