Courtesy of Husker Athletics
A short-handed Nebraska men’s basketball team put together a terrific effort Tuesday night at No. 3 Michigan, but the fifth-ranked Huskers suffered their first defeat of the season with a 75-72 loss at the Crisler Center.
Nebraska was without two of its top three scorers for the top-five matchup, as Rienk Mast (illness) and Braden Frager(injury) each missed the contest. Playing its second road game in four days, Nebraska used a seven-man rotation against the Wolverines, with four Husker starters playing at least 35 minutes.
Despite a short bench, Nebraska led more than 36 minutes against the high-powered Wolverines. The Huskers led by two at halftime and were on top 70-65 with 5:52 to play. But from there, Nebraska missed eight of its final nine shots and did not score over the final 3:20, as Michigan closed the game on a 6-0 run.
Michigan made only one field goal over the final 5:30, but that one basket proved to be the game-winner, as a Trey McKenney bucket gave the Wolverines a 74-72 lead with 1:07 remaining. The lead was Michigan’s first advantage since it led 3-2.
Nebraska (20-1, 9-1 Big Ten) hit 11 3-pointers in the game but just one after halftime. The Huskers shot 46 percent and had eight fewer turnovers than the Wolverines, but Michigan shot 19 more free throws, was plus-12 on the glass and enjoyed a 22-6 margin in bench points.
Jamarques Lawrence and Pryce Sandfort each scored 20 points for the Huskers, as Sandfort posted his fifth straight 20-point game. Sam Hoiberg had another strong game, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals without committing a turnover.
Morez Johnson Jr. led four Wolverines in double figures with 17 points, and he also had a game-high 12 rebounds. Michigan shot 47 percent from the field and was 19-of-23 at the free throw line to improve to 19-1 on the season and 9-1 in Big Ten play.
The first half went at a blistering pace, as both teams shot well over 50 percent with the Huskers taking a 50-48 lead at the break.
Nebraska shot 59.4 percent from the field in the first half, including 10-of-19 from 3-point range, while Michigan shot 65.5 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
The Huskers relied on the shooting of Lawrence early, as the senior had all 16 of his first-half points in the game’s first 10 minutes. The senior guard single-handedly keyed an 11-4 spurt, as the Huskers built a 31-20 lead after three straight 3-pointers.
Michigan chipped away and was within 38-33 before two Sandfort free throws and a Hoiberg basket pushed the lead back to nine at 42-33. Every time Michigan made a run, the Huskers battled back as two straight Sandfort 3-pointers put Nebraska ahead 50-44 with 2:04 left in the half, as Sandfort finished with 14 first-half points.
The Wolverines closed the half with a 6-0 run to pull within 50-48 after a basket from Aday Mara in the final second of the half.
Nebraska begins the second half of Big Ten action on Sunday afternoon, as the Huskers host No. 9 Illinois. Tipoff from PBA is set for 3 p.m, and the game will be carried on FS1 and the Huskers Radio Network.
Nebraska Postgame Notes
- Nebraska suffered its first loss since March 9, 2025, snapping a 24-game win streak, including 20 games in 2025-26.
- Nebraska falls to 5-1 in road games and 8-1 in games away from Pinnacle Bank Arena this season.
- Nebraska sees its 12-game win streak away from Pinnacle Bank Arena snapped.
- Michigan snapped NU’s streak of three straight wins against top-10 opponents dating back to 2023-24.
- Nebraska falls to 2-1 against ranked teams this season.
- Tonight’s game between No. 5 Nebraska and No 3 Michigan marks the Huskers’ first-ever top-five matchup and just the second top-10 matchup in school history
- Cale Jacobsen earned his first start of the season on Tuesday. It is the third different starting lineup of the season. The Huskers were without Rienk Mast (illness) and Braden Frager (ankle), the Huskers’ second and third leading scorers on the season.
- Nebraska fell to 4-1 in games decided by three points or less.
- Pryce Sandfort posted his fifth straight 20-point game and 10th of the season with 20 points. He is the first Husker to have 20+ points in five straight games since Brice Williams last season.
- Pryce Sandfort finished with five 3-pointers tonight, moving into 10th place on NU’s single-season list with 73.
- Leo Curtis tied a career-high with six points, as he had six points in back-to-back games against FIU and Maryland-Eastern Shore
- Nebraska finished with 11 3-pointers, the 14th time NU has hit 10-or-more 3-pointers in a game this season.
- Nebraska’s 50 first-half points was a season high (49 vs. FIU)
