LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- John Turek and Nate Johnson had 17 points apiece and Nebraska defeated Niagara 78-70 in the NIT on Friday night.
The Cornhuskers (18-12) advance to a Monday game at Hawaii.
Juan Mendez scored 27 points to lead Niagara (22-10). James Reaves had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Purple Eagles.
Brian Conklin, who made three 3-pointers, added 14 points for the Huskers.
Nebraska held Niagara to 40-percent shooting. Tremmell Darden, who had 26 points in the Eagles' win over Troy State on Tuesday, was held to 11.
After Niagara had tied the game at 52 in the middle of the second half, Jason Dourisseau hit a layup and free throw and Andrew Drevo picked up a loose ball and put it in for a five-point Nebraska lead.
Johnson's spinning left-handed layup gave the Huskers a 44-40 advantage early in the second half, but Alvin Cruz made a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game for Niagara.
Mendez tied it at 45 with a strong baseline drive with 14:02 left, and a minute later Cruz hit another 3 to give the Eagles their first lead since early in the game, 50-49.
The Huskers were up by as many as nine in the first half, and went into halftime ahead 38-31.