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Rutgers' stars end Nebraska's home winning streak in 85-82 defeat

Robin Washut profile picby:Robin Washut•about 15 hours•

RobinWashut

Fred Hoiberg Nebraska basketball 2022-23
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

On the heels of back-to-back tough road losses, Nebraska returned to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Thursday night in desperate need of a victory over Rutgers.

It was a physical battle on both ends from start to finish, but the Huskers again ended on the wrong side of the scoreboard in an 85-82 defeat.

Future NBA lottery picks Ace Bailey (24 points) and Dylan Harper (21) paced a Rutgers offense that shot 49.3 percent from the field and hit 12-of-29 from 3-point range. Brice Williams scored 14 of his team-high 21 points in the second half to lead NU, including a three with 4.9 left to cut RU’s lead to 83-82.

But a breakaway dunk by Dylan Grant off the ensuing inbound officially put the nail in the coffin.

The Huskers led by four with just over five minutes to play but managed just two more made field goals the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights finished the job by making five of their final six shots.

Nebraska missed 10 free throws (17-of-27) and allowed 17 offensive rebounds for 19 RU second-chance points in a one-possession defeat.

The loss snaps NU’s 20-game home winning streak and drops it to 12-5 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play on the season.

Rutgers goes blow-for-blow after Nebraska’s hot start

Juwan Gary scored 10 of Nebraska’s first 17 points to help the Huskers jump out to an early nine-point lead after the first seven minutes.

Rutgers steadily chipped away from there and took its first lead of the night at 31-30 on a jumper from Bailey with 5:03 left.

NU missed seven of its final eight shots and didn’t score for the final 2:41 of the half, allowing the Scarlet Knights to take a 40-37 lead into the break on a Bailey three at the buzzer.

Rutgers came in shooting 32% from deep and averaging 6.9 made 3-pointers per game. It hit five of its first 11 tries from behind the arc and hit 50% from the field in the first half.

Gary had 13 of his 20 points at halftime, including going 5-for-6 on free throws. The Huskers were 11 of 15 at the charity stripe in the opening half but shot just 4-of-10 on layups.

Nebraska will now hit the road again on Sunday with a trip to take on Maryland. That game will tip at 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

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