Down 17, Minnesota comes back to beat Nebraska

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th December, 23:40 2023

Nov 30, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Ben Johnson looks on during the first half against the New Orleans Privateers at Williams Arena. credits: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Joshua Ola-Joseph scored 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting, Elijah Hawkins collected 12 points and 11 assists, and Minnesota stormed back for a 76-65 win over visiting Nebraska in a Big Ten Conference matchup Wednesday night in Minneapolis.

Braeden Carrington scored 13 points and Pharrel Payne and Mike Mitchell Jr. added 12 apiece for Minnesota (6-3, 1-1 Big Ten). The Golden Gophers erased a 17-point first-half deficit and outscored the Cornhuskers 52-26 in the second half.

Brice Williams scored 18 points on 8-for-16 shooting to lead Nebraska (7-2, 0-1). Jamarques Lawrence scored 16 points and Juwan Gary contributed 11 off the bench.

The Cornhuskers cut the deficit to 60-56 with 4:54 remaining on a jump shot by Lawrence, prompting Minnesota to call a timeout moments later to regroup.

The strategy worked for the Golden Gophers, who regained a double-digit lead with 1:04 left.

The score was tied at 47-47 with 10:59 to go.

Minnesota went on a 10-1 run to grab a 57-48 lead with 8:46 remaining. Ola-Joseph started the scoring burst with a 3-pointer, and he followed with a layup and a dunk during the run to help the Golden Gophers surge ahead.

Minnesota trailed 42-29 with 16:41 remaining after Gary made a layup for Nebraska. Then the Golden Gophers went on a 13-0 run to pull even at 42-42 with 13:14 to go.

Cam Christie and Hawkins drained back-to-back 3-pointers during the comeback run. Carrington converted a three-point play with a layup and a free throw, Parker Fox made a pair of free throws, and Mitchell had a layup.

Nebraska built a 39-24 lead at the half.

The Golden Gophers pulled within 23-20 when Carrington made a 3-pointer off an assist from Fox with 6:25 to go before the break.

Williams then took control for the Cornhuskers. He scored nine consecutive points on a layup, a 3-pointer and two more layups to put Nebraska on top 32-20 with 3:37 remaining in the half.

A 3-pointer by C.J. Wilcher gave Nebraska a 17-point advantage with 1:13 left in the half.

Minnesota pulled back within 15 on a layup by Carrington with 44 seconds before the break.

—Field Level Media

Latest