Freshman forward Dererk Pardon had 28 points and 12 rebounds in only his second career game and Northwestern rallied for an 81-72 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.

Pardon took the place of 7-foot senior center Alex Olah, who is out indefinitely with a stress reaction in his left foot. Pardon came off the bench and played 30 minutes.

Northwestern (13-1, 1-0 Big Ten) rallied from a 12-point deficit to continue its best start since 1933-34.

Junior guard Andrew White scored 22 points and senior guard Benny Parker had a career-high 17 to lead Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers (9-6, 0-1) had a 21-5 run at the end of the first half and the start of the second to lead by 12, but the Wildcats responded with a 21-9 surge and took a 67-66 lead on a putback dunk by Pardon with 4:02 remaining.

Parker entered the game 9 of 29 this season from 3-point range but was 5 of 8 against Northwestern.

Nebraska closed the first half on an 8-0 run with 3-pointers by Tai Webster and White and a buzzer-beating jumper by White for a 38-35 halftime lead.