LINCOLN, NEB. -- Saturday night’s game between Nebraska and No. 24 Oklahoma delivered as the intense defensive battle that was promised.

Both defenses had strong opening performances, limiting the offenses to no points and 32 shared total yards in the first quarter.

Oklahoma enjoyed starting positions on its first three possessions in Nebraska territory but came up empty each time.

In his first start as the Sooners’ field goal kicker, redshirt freshman Tress Way had a tough opening half, missing from 46 and having a 45-yard attempt blocked by NU’s Ndamukong Suh in the first quarter.

Because Nebraska’s offense stuttered to produce against OU’s stifling front seven, it was the defense that gave the Huskers the only touchdown of the first half.

Sooner quarterback Landry Jones, under heavy pressure from the Huskers’ dominating defensive line and backed up to his own end zone, hurriedly threw a dangerous pass to Adron Tennell that was picked off by Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara. The junior cornerback returned the interception 22 yards to OU’s 1 yard line.

Husker quarterback Zac Lee, replacing starter Cody Green, found sophomore tight end Ryan Hill in the back of the end zone for the game’s first score.

Jones responded by finding a rhythm, driving the Sooners all the way to Nebraska’s red zone. After Way’s disastrous first two attempts, OU coach Bob Stoops chose to try to convert on 4th and inches at NU’s 20 yard line, but DeMarco Murray was gobbled up in the backfield.

Two plays later, Husker junior Roy Helu, Jr. ripped off a 63-yard run to OU’s 11 yard line, the longest run by a Husker this season. But the Huskers took their turn coughing up the ball in the red zone after OU junior defensive tackle Gerald McCoy recovered a pitch fumbled by Helu.

Both teams traded off unsuccessful drives before OU was able to return to Nebraska’s red zone.

With time running out in the first half, Stoops opted for the points as Way hit a 28-yard field goal.

The Huskers held a 7-3 lead over No. 24 Oklahoma at halftime.