No. 7 Huskers Fall in OT, 80-77
Lincoln – No. 7 Nebraska erased a 22-point second-half deficit to get the game to overtime before No. 13 Purdue rallied for an 80-77 overtime win Tuesday night.
The Huskers (21-3. 10-3) trailed 46-24 with 18:55 remaining before mounting a frantic comeback. NU used an 18-2 run to get within 57-53 with 5:20 left after a Sam Hoiberg basket, only to see Purdue seemingly take control with a 10-0 run highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from C.J. Cox.
Nebraska trailed 67-63 with 2:45 left in regulation before making one last run, outscoring the Boilermakers, 15-1 down the stretch as Rienk Mast and Jamarques Lawrence, who combined for 12 of the Huskers final 15 points in regulation.
Mast’s putback with 12.8 seconds left in regulation pulled NU even at 68, but the senior, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, was unable to complete the 3-point play and NU forced a stop to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, the Huskers trailed 75-70 after another Cox 3-pointer with 3:09 left, but has one more surge, as a pair of free throws form Pryce Sandfort and a Lawrence 3-pointer tied the game, and NU took its only lead of the night on a Sandfort basket with 1:31 remaining in the extra period.
Cox finished with 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
Leading 77-76 Oscar Cluff’s putbck with 4.1 seconds left gave Purdue the lead for good. Cluff, who finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, missed the free throw and a tie-up gave the Huskers one last chance. Nebraska was not able to take advantage as Lawrence, who finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, slipped on a wet spot by the Purdue bench and Gicarri Harris hit a pair of free throws for the final margin.
Loyer led four Purdue players with 18 points, while Braden Smith had 13 points and 10 assists. Trey Kaufman-Renn had 19 rebounds, as Purdue out-rebounded Nebraska, 54-37 and had a 17-6 advantage in second-chance points.
Purdue (20-4, 10-3 Big Ten) silenced the sellout crowd, joining to a 14-1 lead in the first 3:16 of the contest hitting 4-of-5 from 3-point range. The Huskers were forced to play catchup, getting to within 16-9 after a pair of Mast 3-pointers with 13:55 left in the half.
Purdue held Nebraska to 32 percent shooting in the first half, led by as many as 17 in the first half and took a 40-24 lead to the locker room.
Nebraska will continue with the homestand this Saturday, Feb. 14, when the Huskers host Northwestern on Alumni Weekend. Tipoff is set for Noon (central) and the game will be on BTN and the Huskers Radio Network.