No. 9 Nebraska ties program record for wins with OT triumph over Iowa

Field Level MediaField Level Media|published: Sun 8th March, 20:11 2026
NCAA Basketball: Iowa at NebraskaMar 8, 2026; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Braden Frager (5) drives against Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

No. 9 Nebraska earned the second seed in the Big Ten tournament after defeating Iowa 84-75 in overtime in both teams' regular-season finale Sunday in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cornhuskers (26-5, 15-5 Big Ten) tied the program record for wins in a season while extending their record for conference wins in a season.

Tied at 75-all in overtime, Nebraska ended the game on a 9-0 run to seal the victory against Iowa (20-11, 10-10).

Cale Jacobsen made a 3-pointer for a 78-75 Nebraska lead with 1:30 left in overtime. Jacobsen had just 12 made 3-pointers before the finale, but he made two in the overtime. His first 3-pointer gave Nebraska a 73-70 lead.

Nebraska senior Sam Hoiberg added a driving layup for an 80-75 Cornhuskers lead with 52.8 seconds to go. Hoiberg, son of Nebraska had coach Fred Hoiberg, followed the basket 25 seconds later with two free throws for a seven-point lead. Jamarques Lawrence finished it off for Nebraska with a steal and a layup.


Jacobsen, Sam Hoiberg and Pryce Sandfort each finished with 15 points and Rienk Mast added 14 for the Cornhuskers.

Trailing 70-62 in regulation, Iowa's Kael Combs personally led the Hawkeyes' comeback in regulation by scoring all eight points in the final 1:08 of regulation. He knocked down a game-tying 3-pointer with nine seconds to go.

Combs and Cooper Koch scored 18 points apiece to pace Iowa. Tavion Banks had 12 and Bennett Stirtz added 11.

Nebraska held a 30-26 halftime lead, with the teams combining for 19 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Nebraska's defense came up with eight of its 11 steals in the half.

Tied at 10-all, the Cornhuskers got a dunk from Berke Buyuktuncel, a 3-pointer from Jared Garcia and free throws from Braden Frager to take a 17-12 lead with 8:51 remaining.

The Hawkeyes cut the deficit to 25-24 and 27-26, but a timely pass by Lawrence to Buyuktuncel with 1:09 left led to a layup and free throw for the 30-26 lead.


--Field Level Media

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