Nebraska Runs Out of Gas in Loss at Indiana

A shorthanded Nebraska(4-6, 0-1 Big Ten) men’s basketball team did all it could to stay with Indiana(10-1, 1-1 Big Ten) Friday but came up just shy in overtime.

The game could have gotten out of hand from the get go, as Nebraska started its fourth different lineup in 10 games. That new lineup was due to coach Fred Hoiberg announcing a few hours before tip-off that junior guard Jervay Green had been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

A quick 11-2 start for Indiana gave the impression of another blowout, but Nebraska would go on a 14-6 run into the under-12 media timeout. The teams would stay within single digits the rest of the game, including at half where the Hoosiers lead 40-39.

Nebraska shot 45.5-percent in the first half from the floor, including 30.8-percent from 3. Perhaps the biggest surprise early, the Huskers were a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

The second half remained tight even to the final minute, where Nebraska was forced to foul and make shots on their own end. Indiana’s Rob Phinisee made two free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Hoosiers a three point lead.

The Huskers then ran a set play to open up Dachon Burke for a three with one second remaining to send the game into overtime.

Dachon Burke takes @HuskerHoops to OT with this shot! pic.twitter.com/RxlBGnd91M

— Nebraska On BTN (@NebraskaOnBTN) December 14, 2019

Nebraska’s depth showed in the extra period where Indiana took over to win 96-90.

Hoiberg’s squad played extra minutes, with four players going past the 40 minute mark for the game. Among those was Cam Mack who played all but 29 seconds in the game. Mack used those extra minutes to score 15 points and dish out 10 assists. He joins Lance Jeter as the only players to post multiple points-assists double-doubles in the past 30 years.

Burke led the Huskers with 25 points in the game while Haanif Cheatham scored 21. It is the second time this year Nebraska has had multi 20-point scorers.

Thorir Thorbjarnarson posted a career high 17 points.

Nebraska has a quick turnaround this weekend, hosting Purdue(6-3, 1-0 Big Ten) at 3 pm Sunday.