Nebrasketball Upset of No. 4 Purdue Falls Short

Nebraska men’s basketball almost had a second top-10 win in a week.

Almost.

The Huskers pushed No. 4 Purdue to the wire, but ultimately fell in overtime 65-62. NU is now 6-5 on the year and 0-2 in the Big Ten Conference.

Nebraska had plenty of opportunities throughout the game to come up with the upset. In the first half, multiple open shots, some layups, were missed for Big Red while the Boilermakers went on a 10-0 run to help them lead by 10 at the half.

Out of the break, Nebraska was undeterred.

Emmanuel Bandoumel started the scoring a trio of free throws. After Purdue stretch their lead to 14, Keisei Tominaga’s four-point play sparked a 10-0 run as the Huskers clawed back into the game.

Both teams struggle to get the ball in the basket for the final 12 minutes. Over that stretch, Purdue shot 3-of-14 while Nebraska went 5-of-19.

On a single possession, Nebraska got five shots up and missed them all. But with eight seconds to go, Tominaga hit a three to tie the game.

Purdue missed their shot at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, a pair of Derrick Walker jumpers put Nebraska up 60-59 with 1:49 to go. But Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer had an answer to give the Boilermakers a 61-60 lead.

The lead stretched to three with a pair of free throws before Tominaga got a layup.

Then a questionable call, one of several on the day, turned a loose ball into a Nebraska foul. Purdue made both free throws and Nebraska missed the answer on the other end.

Nebraska shot 31.9 percent for the game, including 9-of-32 from 3. At the line, Nebraska went 7-of-10, but two of those misses came on the front end of 1-and-1s late in the second half.

Tominaga led the Husker scoring with 19 points. Walker and Bandoumel scored 14 points each.

Walker finished with another double-double as he grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

Nebraska returns to action in Kansas City taking on Kansas State next Saturday.