No. 15 Michigan stifled Nebraska in a tense showdown, securing a narrow 49-46 victory reminiscent of classic Big Ten rivalries. The Wolverines effectively employed a variety of defensive strategies to disrupt the Cornhuskers’ game plan, particularly silencing standout Brice Williams during the second half.
In the first half, Williams was a force on the court, racking up 18 points and hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. However, Michigan’s defense adapted, placing extra pressure on him with double teams and forcing his teammates to take more responsibility. As a result, Williams struggled in the second half, managing only 2-of-8 shooting.
With just 1:36 left on the clock, Sam Hoiberg, son of Nebraska’s head coach Fred Hoiberg, made a significant impact by sinking a deep 3-pointer, narrowing the gap to 45-44. Despite Michigan missing a couple of critical 3-point attempts shortly after, Nebraska failed to capitalize on their chances, with Connor Essegian and Williams both missing potential go-ahead shots.
Roddy Gayle Jr. and Tre Donaldson sealed the game for Michigan by each converting two free throws in the closing moments.
Gayle led the Wolverines with 12 points, while Donaldson contributed 11. Forward Danny Wolf recorded his 12th double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
On the other side, Williams ended the night with 26 points, nearly single-handedly pushing the Cornhuskers toward a much-needed win.
The atmosphere was electric, with members of Nebraska’s football team, including quarterback Dylan Raiola, observing as the basketball team struggled to find its offensive rhythm.
With this loss, Nebraska (17-11 overall, 7-10 Big Ten) fell to 10th in the Big Ten standings, sitting just 1.5 games ahead of 16th-place Northwestern. They now face the challenge of securing a spot in the Big Ten Tournament before shifting their focus to the NCAA Tournament.
Conversely, Michigan (21-6, 13-3) is tied with Michigan State for the top spot in the conference, although the Spartans currently hold the tie-breaker. The Wolverines are known for their formidable defense, ranked 15th in KenPom’s metrics, but they have also been involved in several high-scoring games this season.
The game marked a historic low for the Wolverines, as it was the fewest points they have scored in a victory in 17 years. It also highlighted a rare occurrence in the Big Ten, being only the third game in 11 years where a team won with fewer than 50 points. Michigan’s shooting dipped to a season-low of 30%, while Nebraska’s 26% marked their worst performance since a 2019 game against Maryland.
The contest oscillated between exceptional defensive plays and poor shooting, with Nebraska struggling at 1-of-7 on layups and Michigan hitting just 3-of-12.
Michigan’s previous low point total in a win was a 49-43 triumph over Illinois back in February 2008. In the final moments of this latest game, the Wolverines scored on three consecutive possessions, establishing a six-point lead with just over four minutes remaining, thanks to contributions from Wolf and L.J. Cason.
Nebraska has now suffered two straight losses and must find offensive support beyond Williams, who accounted for 18 of their 21 first-half points. The remaining players combined for only 20 points and shot a dismal 7-of-41 from the field.
Looking ahead, Michigan will host Rutgers on Thursday, while Nebraska will face Minnesota at home on Saturday.
