Tominaga scores 24 points in Nebraska’s 93-72 loss to Michigan

ANN ARBOR, MI —Keisei Tominaga led Nebraska with 24 points, but Michigan shot 58 percent from the field in posting a 93-72 victory Wednesday night in Ann Arbor.

Tominaga continues his hot shooting as he led NU with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting for his second straight 20-point game to pace Nebraska. Derrick Walker added 15 points, seven rebounds and a career-high eight assists for Nebraska (11-14, 4-10 Big Ten)

Jett Howard led six Wolverines in double figures with 22 points, including six 3-pointers, as Michigan shot 68 percent in the first half and out-rebounded Nebraska 35-23. Hunter Dickinson scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and grabbed 10 rebounds for Michigan, which won its third straight game.

Nebraska, which trailed by as many as 24 in the first half, fought back to within 48-39 with 18:01 left after a 12-2 run that started in the final two minutes of the second half.  Michigan regained control with an 10-2 spurt to push the lead back to 58-41 and eventually built a 68-47 lead with 11:41 lead before Nebraska made one last run.

Sam Griesel and C.J. Wilcher combined for 11 straight points as Nebraska cut the Wolverine advantage to 68-58 with 8:34 remaining. NU trailed 75-65 and had a chance to pull within seven with six minutes remaining, but Wilcher’s wide-open 3-point attempt was off the mark, and Dug McDaniel hit a 3-pointer to push the lead back to 13. Tominaga’s basket made it 78-67, but Nebraska would get no closer, as the hosts used a 12-0 spurt to put the game out of reach.

In the first half, Nebraska withstood an early Michigan offensive barrage and battled back in the last seven minutes of the half to pull within 46-34 at the break. The Wolverines hit 15 of their first 20 shots from the field, including 8-of-12 from 3-point range to build a commanding 41-17 lead with 6:58 in the half.

Nebraska responded with eight straight points and were within 41-25 after a pair of free throws from Jamarques Lawrence with 4:24 left in the half. The Huskers had one last run, as Sam Hoiberg scored five points in a 7-0 Husker spurt in the final 1:08, including a 3-pointer to get NU within 12 at the break.

The Wolverines shot 68 percent in the opening 20 minutes, but Nebraska shot 46 percent, including 5-of-8 from long distance to back into the game. Joey Baker had 11 first-half points for Michigan, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range. For Nebraska, Tominaga had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a trio of 3-pointers.

Nebraska returns home on Saturday, Feb. 11, to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. and tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets.

Game Notes

*-Keisei Tominaga posted his fourth 20-point game of the season and fifth of his career with a game-high 24 points. It is the first time in his career he has posted consecutive 20-point game. He has now reached double figures a team high 15 times this season.

*-Derrick Walker matched his career high with eight assists, topping his previous best of seven on two occasions (at Minnesota, Penn State). It marked the sixth time he had at least five assists this season.

*-Walker finished in double figures for the 14^th time this season with 15 points and seven rebounds

*-Michigan set season highs for a Husker opponent in points (93), field goal percentage (57.6) and 3-point percentage (53.8)

*-Nebraska had 15 assists and just eight turnovers, one off a season low for turnovers.