A game of runs did not go Nebraska’s way as Michigan’s hot shooting proved to be too much as they defeat the Huskers 93-72.
The Husker got out to a great start. The offense was fluent as Keisei Tominaga’s off-ball movement was tough for Michigan to keep up with and allowed Nebraska to put up easy shots. After a Tominaga three, NU held a 12-11 lead with 14:34 to go in the first half.
The Wolverines took over from there.
Michigan proceeded to go on a colossal 30-5 run, giving them a 41-17 lead. The Wolverines forced five Nebraska turnovers in just over three minutes of play and went 11-of-13 from the field.
But the Big Red did not back down.
After being down 24 in the final 6:35 of the half, NU put together a 17-5 run capped off by Sam Hoiberg’s three with eight seconds left. Nebraska slashed the Michigan lead to 12 heading into the locker rooms.
Michigan shot an astounding 68% from the field in the half and 57% from three. Nebraska shot the ball well going 46% from the floor and putting in 5 threes.
Nebraska carried the momentum into the start of the second half. It was clear, the Huskers wanted to attack All-American Hunter Dickinson, who struggled mightily in half one, as Derrick Walker scored five straight points, making it 48-39 with 18 minutes to go.
But just as Nebraska seemed to have life, Michigan sucker-punched them with a 20-8 run over seven minutes of play, extending their lead to 21. Dickinson came to life notching six points on the run.
But the Huskers would not go away. Sam Griesel, much like his performance against Illinois, put Nebraska’s offense on his back, scoring seven straight points and sparking a 13-3 run that made the score 60-71 with 8 to go.
The teams traded buckets until a 15-3 run from Michigan, led by Dickinson, secured Michigan’s third straight conference win.
Tominaga led all Nebraska scorers with 24 points shooting 10-16 from the field and knocking down four threes. It was Tominaga’s fourth time this season and the second game in a row with 20-plus points. Walker, who’s turned the ball over 23 times over the last five games, had only one turnover tonight, along with 15 points, seven rebounds, and a season-high eight assists.
All five Michigan starters scored double-digit points led by guard Jett Howard who totaled 22 points and knocked down 6 threes. Dickinson, who had two first-half points, finished with 16 on 6-of-7 shooting and ten rebounds for his eighth double-double of the year.
Nebraska got outrebounded by the Wolverines 35-23 and loss the battle from the arc hitting seven threes to Michigan’s 14. Michigan finished the game shooting 58% from the field and 54% from three.
The loss drops Nebraska to 11-14. Their next game is against the Wisconsin Badgers on Feb. 11th at Pinnacle Bank Arena