Michigan
16-5, 5-3
Nebraska
14-7, 5-3
Wolverines Overwhelmed by Cornhuskers in B1G Road Test
1/18/2018 11:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
» Nebraska's 72-52 win was its first over Michigan since 1964 and snapped Michigan's 10-game win streak against the Cornhuskers.
» Charles Matthews led Michigan with 15 points and added eight rebounds and two assists.
» Michigan shot 37 percent (21-for-56) from the field, while Nebraska shot 55 percent (26-for-47).
» U-M grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, its second most of the season, and scored 16 of its points on second chances.
Site: Lincoln, Neb. (Pinnacle Bank Arena)
Score: Nebraska 72, No. 23 Michigan 52
Records: U-M (16-5, 5-3 Big Ten), UN (14-7, 5-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 21 – vs. Rutgers, Noon (TV: BTN)
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The 23rd-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team fell to Nebraska, 72-52, on the road on Thursday night (Jan. 18) at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Cornhuskers' win was their first against the Wolverines since 1964, and snapped Michigan's 10-game win streak against Nebraska.
Junior Charles Matthews paced U-M with 15 points and added eight rebounds and two assists. As a team, the Wolverines shot 37 percent (21-for-56) from the field, while the Cornhuskers made 55 percent (26-for-47) of their attempts. The Wolverines pulled in 14 offensive rebounds, the second-highest total of the season, and scored 16 of its 52 points on second chances.
Nebraska took an early 5-0 lead, marking the first time since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in the 2011-12 season that they held a two-possession lead over the Wolverines. Michigan answered with nine straight points, including four from Matthews and a triple from freshman Isaiah Livers, who gave the Wolverines a 12-10 edge at 13:51 when he sank his second three pointer in the first seven minutes of the game.Â
Nebraska rallied on an 8-0 run before Matthews slowed NU's momentum with a bucket with 11:10 remaining in the half and the Huskers led, 18-14. The Wolverines then went without a field goal for 7:27, and a pair of free throws from Matthews were U-M's only points during a 10-2 Nebraska run. When the Cornhuskers took a 12-point lead, 28-16, with 4:10 to play, Michigan coach John Beilein called timeout.
Sophomore Zavier Simpson ended the drought with a triple at the 3:43 mark. The two teams traded baskets after the final media timeout of the first half and Nebraska held a 32-21 advantage at the half.
Michigan cut Nebraska's lead to eight points on two different occasions early in the second half, but following a Matthews bucket at 17:43, the Wolverines were held without a field goal for five minutes, as Nebraska went on a 10-1 run. Senior Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman ended the run with a three pointer with 12:40 to play in the game and the Huskers led, 45-31.
Freshman Jordan Poole came off the bench and added four points on a hard right-handed take to the basket and a fast-break dunk to bring Michigan within 12, 51-39, at the 8:38 mark. NU then scored five quick points to regain a 17-point lead and force U-M to call timeout.
Sophomore Ibi Watson (four), graduate student Jaaron Simmons (four) and sophomore Jon Teske (two) each came off the bench and contributed points late in the game. The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch and Nebraska took its largest lead of the game, 72-52, on the final basket of the game with 36 seconds remaining.
Michigan will return home to host Rutgers on Sunday (Jan. 21) inside Crisler Center. The game is scheduled for a noon tipoff and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Â [ Purchase Tickets | Promotions ]
