#10 Excel H Sports Ranked Huskers Phenomenal 2nd Half Dooms IU 

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

    #10 Excel H Sports Ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers held off the Indiana Hoosiers 83-77 Saturday Afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Nebraska one of six teams that were unbeaten coming into today along with Arizona, Michigan Iowa State, Vanderbilt and Miami (Ohio). Nebraska is 16-0 on the season and 5-0 in the Big Ten and Miami Ohio won at Toledo 87-73 on Friday Night. Indiana drops to 12-4 and 3-2 in the Big Ten and the Hoosiers will travel to Michigan State on Tuesday Night at 7 PM. Indiana was 10-0 at home coming into today’s game and Nebraska beats Indiana for the fifth time in Bloomington and second straight time after an 85-70 win on February 21, 2024, as the Cornhuskers have won five in a row against the Hoosiers as Indiana leads the all-time series 19-12.

    Jamarques Lawrence led the Cornhuskers with 27 points Reink Mast scored 13 points, Pryce Sandfort added 12 points, and Braden Frager added 11 points off the bench. Nebraska finished the game 29-60 from the field for 43%, 14-34 from three-point range from 41% and 11-14 form the free throw line for 78. Nebraska pulled down 31 rebounds, dished out 18 assists, 9 steals, no blocks and 8 turnovers. Nebraska scored 24 points in the paint, 18 bench points, 14 points off turnovers, 11 points off turnovers and 10 points fastbreak points.

     Lamar Wilkerson led the Hoosiers with 32 Points knocking down 5 three pointers and 9-9 from the free throw line. Tucker DeVries added 17 points, and Reed Bailey scored 10 points. The Hoosiers finished 26-56 from the field for 46%, 11-30 from three-point range for 36% and 14-17 from the free throw line for 82%. Indiana pulled down 31 rebounds, dished out 16 assists, 4 steals, no blocks and 14 turnovers. Indiana scored 26 points in the paint, 19 bench points, 13 second chance points, 6 points off turnovers and 6 fastbreak points.

     Their 8 ties and 7 lead changes as Indiana led 39-30 at halftime but the Cornhuskers outscored the Hoosiers 53-38 in the second half and made five of their last seven shots down the stretch to remain unbeaten and return home to Lincoln to face Oregon on Tuesday Night at 9 PM Eastern Time on the Big Ten Network. Nebraska is ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1966 and extend their winning streak to 20 games after winning the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.

      Indiana led 65-59 with 8:27 left to go in the ball game and Nebraska went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 65-65 with 7:41 left. The Cornhuskers outscored the Hoosiers 18-12 the rest of the way as the Hoosiers had defensive breakdowns and the Cornhuskers continued to battle their way through to pull out another tough road win in always tough Big Ten Conference. Nebraska has picked up road wins over Illinois and Ohio State and now they add the Hoosiers to the list of Big Ten Road wins and at the top of the Big Ten standings.

      The Hoosiers travel to Michigan State Tuesday Night and host Iowa on Saturday afternoon. Indiana Head Coach Darian DeVries said after the game that ” You cannot give up 53 points in the second half at home and expect to win.” Indiana had issues with turnovers down the stretch as well and Nebraska took advantage of those turnovers and get out of Bloomington with the victory.