Freshman Pardon scores 28, leads Wildcats over Huskers 81-72

Freshman Pardon scores 28, leads Wildcats over Huskers 81-72

The freshman had 28 points and 12 rebounds in his second college game and led his team back from a 12-point second-half deficit in an 81-72 victory.

Pardon scored 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field in the second half, and he finished 11 for 14.

Six of his seven offensive rebounds came after halftime.

Northwestern coach Chris Collins activated Pardon on Sunday because of a foot injury that will keep 7-foot senior Alex Olah out indefinitely.

"Just an outstanding performance by a young player who we had really high hopes for coming in," Collins said.

The Huskers had no answer for Pardon in the low post, and he scored nine points as the Wildcats were whittling a 51-39 deficit to three points.

Andrew White made 5 of 8 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the Huskers, and Benny Parker had career highs with 17 points and five 3s.

Pipp is the New York Yankees player who sat out a game because of injury in 1925 and never got his starting job back.