Second-Half Hawkeye Run Dooms Huskers to Another Loss

Iowa responds with 11 straight points after Nebraska cuts deficit to 2

Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Contents

1. Stats
2. Photos
3. Highlights

As a two-point game hung in the balance following empty possessions for both teams, Nebraska had an open shot for the lead with less than ten minutes left, but the shot missed, Iowa seized control with an 11-0 run NU could not overcome, and the Huskers fell 88-78 on Friday night.

A steal by senior Alonzo Verge, Jr. gave the Huskers a chance to tie or take the lead. Freshman CJ Wilcher had a good look from beyond the arc, but it went begging. Iowa scored the next 11 points, thanks in part to three straight Nebraska turnovers, all bad passes.

After the 11-0 Hawkeye run, the Huskers couldn’t get closer than 8 until the final 30 seconds. Although they got to within seven at 81-74 with 31 seconds remaining, a Trey McGowens technical foul allowed Iowa to score five straight from the free throw line to put it away for good.

Verge scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, and dropped 7 assists, to lead Nebraska. Wilcher also played a large second half role with 12 of his 14 points off the bench coming after halftime. Bryce McGowens added 13 points, 10 in the second half.

Before the 11-0 Iowa run, the Huskers relied on Verge’s passing, junior Derrick Walker’s accuracy down low, and a re-energized Trey McGowens. Verge assisted on three of Walker’s four baskets in the first half. Trey McGowens led all scorers with nine first-half points, his best scoring half since returning from injury on Jan. 17.

Wilcher and Bryce McGowens competed for early second-half MVP. After Bryce scored nine of Nebraska’s first 11 points out of the locker room, Wilcher then scored five straight to cut it to 54-51.

The 25th-ranked Hawkeyes, always seemingly producing the right answer, responded. NU defended the next possession well, boxed out in the paint, but didn’t get the ball. Tony Perkins swooped in for a quick putback. After senior Kobe Webster missed a three, Keegan Murray got loose, and Jordan Bohannon found him for a dunk. Timeout, Fred Hoiberg, as Iowa took its largest lead thus far at 58-51.

Nebraska emerged focused, scoring five straight and defending Iowa well. But once Iowa grabbed momentum back with that 11-0 run, it never left them.

“When we get hit, we just don’t know how to get back up,” Verge said.

“Guys we were OK with shooting stung us tonight,” Husker head coach Fred Hoiberg said. “You have to devise a game plan; you can’t take everything away.”

Hoiberg’s plan was to take Jordan Bohannon and Keegan Murray out of the game, which they did in the first half. Bohannon is Iowa’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers and assists, as well as the NCAA career leader in games played. Murray entered this game having scored 20 or more points in seven straight games, averaging 27.7 points per contest over his last six.

At halftime, they scored just six points on a combined 2-of-9 shooting. And yet, Iowa led 36-35 at the break.

One play that made the highlight reel came 12 minutes before half when Iowa tried to steal it from Verge as he dribbled around his back. Verge collected the ball, found Walker cutting to rim, and they delivered an alley-oop that rocked the crowd.

Nebraska enjoyed the largest first-half lead for either team at 28-21 when Webster knocked down a left-wing 3-pointer with 6:47 remaining.

Connor and Patrick McCaffery combined to shoot 5-of-6 from downtown in the first half, helping the Hawkeyes overcome less scoring from Bohannon and Murray.

Inside the last two minutes of the half, Iowa took its first lead since 19-18 at the ten-minute mark when Connor McCaffery finished off a 10-3 Hawkeye run with a 3-pointer.

Trailing 34-33, Verge grabbed the lead right back for NU. Philip Rebraca scored a point-blank lay-in right before the buzzer to give Iowa a 36-35 halftime advantage.

Tony Perkins, who averaged 6.1 points per game before Friday night, scored a career-high 20 points to lead all scorers. He made his last five shots, hit both of his 3-point attempts, and snatched 5 rebounds, which tied his season best.

Iowa doubled up Nebraska on the offensive glass, 12-6, leading to a huge 19-5 advantage in second-chance points.

About 24 hours before the home finale, NU Athletic Director Trev Alberts announced on Sports Nightly that Fred Hoiberg would return to Lincoln for a fourth season as head coach. Hoiberg agreed to a salary reduction of $250,000, and a $4 million cut to his buyout were he to be fired in 2023.

“We absolutely love it here, I’m thankful to be the coach here, and I want to be the coach here for a long time,” Hoiberg said. “I understand this is a win-loss league, and we have not won in the three years we have been here. I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to continue on.”

Before tip-off, Nebraska recognized seven players on Senior Night: Alonzo Verge Jr., Trevor Lakes and Kobe Webster, who have exhausted their eligibility, and Chris McGraw, Derrick Walker, Lat Mayen and Trey McGowens, who could each return for another season.

Webster scored all six of his points off the bench in the second half. Walker led NU with eight rebounds and finished with ten points on 5-of-6 shooting. Mayen added eight points, hitting a pair of threes. Trey McGowens did not score in the second half and ended up with nine points. Lakes and McGraw did not play against Iowa but saw action in eight and six games this season, respectively.

With the loss, Nebraska fell to 7-21 on the season and 1-16 in Big Ten play, while Iowa improved to 20-8 and 10-7. The Huskers will end the regular season with games at Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. 

Stats

• Box score

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Photos

Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa guard Tony Perkins drives past Nebraska guard Alonzo Verge Jr. in the second half.

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Nebraska  guard Bryce McGowens reacts after scoring a three-pointer early in the second half.

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Iowa forward Filip Rebraca defends against Nebraska forward Derrick Walker in the first half.

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Iowa guard Tony Perkins drives against Nebraska guard CJ Wilcher in the second half.

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Nebraska guard Trey McGowens scores against Iowa guard Payton Sandfort in the first half.

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Nebraska forward Derrick Walker drives against Iowa forward Filip Rebraca in the first half.

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Keegan Murray scores against Nebraska forward Derrick Walker in the second half.

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Iowa forward Keegan Murray scores against Nebraska forward Lat Mayen in the first half.

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Nebraska guard Alonzo Verge Jr. scores in the first half.

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Iowa forward Keegan Murray slams two points home in the second half.

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Nebraska guard Trey McGowens drives past Iowa forward Filip Rebraca in the first half.

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Iowa forward Kris Murray drives against Nebraska forward Derrick Walker in the second half.

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Iowa forward Patrick McCaffery and Nebraska guard Trey McGowens reach for a loose ball in the first half.

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Nebraska forward Lat Mayen shoots over Iowa guard Connor McCaffery in the first half.

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Nebraska guard Alonzo Verge Jr. dribbles around Iowa forward Keegan Murray in the first half.

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Nebraska guard C.J. Wilcher drives between Iowa guards Joe Toussaint and Ahron Ulis in the first half.

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Nebraska forward Lat Mayen drives on Iowa forward Patrick McCaffery in the first half.

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Iowa coach Fran McCaffery talks to his team during a break in the first half.

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Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg watches action in the second half.

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Highlights

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