Courtesy of Husker Athletics
Brice Williams had a game-high 22 points to lead three Huskers in double figures, but Nebraska suffered an 87-82 overtime setback at Rutgers Wednesday evening.
The Huskers (13-5, 3-4 Big Ten) led 63-51 with 9:39 remaining in regulation after consecutive 3-pointers from Wilcher only to see the Scarlet Knights rally in the final 10 minutes of regulation. The Huskers had two chances in the final 10 seconds to win, but could not capitalize and get a shot off, sending the game to an extra session.
Williams finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals, while Keisei Tominaga and Wilcher added 16 and 12 points, respectively.
In the extra session, Nebraska tied it at 74 after a Tominaga 3-pointer but Cliff Omoruyi’s basket with 2:58 left in overtime gave the Scarlet Knights the lead for good. Rutgers led 79-74, but the Huskers would continue to battle.
NU got to within 83-82 after a pair of 3-pointers by Sam Hoiberg, the last with 20.9 seconds left, but Rutgers Noah Fernandes hit a pair of free throws to make it a 3-point game before Tominaga’s 3-pointer with 10 second left was off the mark, allowing Rutgers to escape with the win.
Aundre Hyatt led five Rutgers (10-7, 2-4) players in double digits with 17 points while Mawot Mag added 16. Omoruyi finished with 14 points and 15 boards, as Rutgers out-rebounded NU, 56-42, including 25 offensive rebounds which led to 20 second-chance points.
The first half saw runs by both teams before going into the locker room deadlocked at 36-all. Brice Williams had 11 first-half points to pace NU in the opening 20 minutes.
The Huskers trailed 11-7 before a Tominaga 3-pointer and a conventional 3-point play from Jamarques Lawrence started a 10-0 Husker run that gave NU 17-11 lead after Rienk Mast’s basket with 12:42 left in the half.
Nebraska eventually stretched its margin to 12, at 27-15 after a 3-point from Juwan Gary with 8:51 left in the half before Rutgers charged back. The Huskers led 33-25 after an Eli Rice free throw with 5:23 left in the half but Rutgers went on a 9-0 run of its own to take a 34-33 lead. Williams hit a trio of free throws on NU’s next possessions, but Mawot Mag’s putback with 14.1 seconds left in the half tied the game.
Nebraska trailed 42-41 after Derek Simpson’s 3-pointer, but four straight points from Josiah Allick started an 9-0 run that saw Nebraska build a 50-42 advantage after a Williams 3-pointer.
Rutgers pulled to within 57-51 after a putback from Hyatt before Wilcher hit consecutive 3-pointers to give NU its largest lead of the half. Unfortunately, that would be NU’s last field goal of regulation, as the Scarlet Knights mounted a comeback and used a 11-2 spurt, including eight straight to pull within 65-62 after an Omoruyi dunk.
Nebraska, which went 12-of-15 from the line in the second half, kept hitting free throws to stay ahead and led 69-66 after Jamarques Lawrence hit a pair of free throws with 1:06 left in regulation. On Rutgers’ next possession, Omoruyi scored, but could not convert the 3-point play to make it a one-point game. With 26.5 seconds left, Omoruyi was fouled, but missed the front end of the one-and-one. That would hurt NU as the Scarlet Knights kept possession and Hyatt split a pair of free throws to tie it a 69-all with 19.8 seconds left.
Nebraska returns home this Saturday, Jan. 20, to take on Northwestern at 1:15 p.m. It is Husker Basketball Alumni Weekend, and some 300 Level tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com or calling the NU Athletic Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.
