LINCOLN, Neb.- Cedric Smith scored a career-high 14 points but it would not be enough as Savannah State fell to Nebraska 68-48 before a crowd of 7,458 in the Devaney Center.

Smith came off the bench to shoot 6-of-7 from the floor and grab five rebounds.

Nebraska (12-2) broke open a close game with a strong finish to the first half and strong beginning in the second half.

The Cornhuskers led 16-11 with 8:46 on the clock but SSU strung together a 9-1 run to go ahead 20-17 with 4:46 left.

Nebraska finished the half scoring the final six points to take a 23-20 lead at intermission.

The Huskers scored the first six points of the second period as part of a 23-6 run to take a 45-26 advantage with 11:16 remaining.

SSU's deficit grew to 20 points with just under nine minutes left before they went on a 7-2 mini to slice Nebraska's lead to 52-37 with 6:47 remaining.

The Tigers would get no closer as Nebraska went on a 10-2 run to get their lead to 23 points with 3:37 on the clock.

Preston Blackmon and Jovonni Shuler each had 10 points and six rebounds for SSU (2-16).

The Huskers shot 55.6 percent from the floor to SSU's 30.4 percent.

Jorge Diaz led Nebraska with 13 points and seven rebounds.