The 3-Point Play: Injuries mount, FT issues remain, and a bright spot from Nebraska's loss at Penn St.

Another killer injury and more shooting woes doomed Nebraska in a 76-65 loss at Penn State on Saturday afternoon.

Here are three of our biggest takeaways from the Huskers’ defeat in University Park, Pennsylvania…

RELATED: Shooting woes, another critical injury doom Nebraska in 76-65 loss at Penn State

Nebraska suffers another significant blow with Bandoumel’s injury 

Nebraska was already on the ropes after losing starting forward Juwan Gary to a season-ending shoulder injury this week. The last thing the Huskers could afford was to lose another critical piece of their lineup.  

That’s precisely what happened, as starting guard Emmanuel Bandoumel had his right knee buckle while driving to the basket with 13 minutes left in the first half.

The senior immediately went to the floor, and NU trainers helped him to the locker room. Nebraska quickly ruled him out for the rest of the game, and it sounds like the extent of the injury could be a long-term issue.

“We’ll get a test on him tomorrow, (but) the early evaluation didn’t look good,” head coach Fred Hoiberg told the Huskers Radio Network. “But we’ll get him scanned tomorrow and have an update after that.”

However long Bandoumel is out, Nebraska will be without its best perimeter defender and one of its strongest vocal leaders. C.J. Wilcher filled in for Bandoumel to open the second half.

A team that needs to play 40 minutes of elite defense to have a chance in Big Ten play, NU will now likely have to navigate without its two top defenders in Bandoumel and Gary.

“We’re going to have to have everybody step up,” Hoiberg said. “We’ll get more (info) on Emmanuel tomorrow or on Monday. But there are going to have to be guys that step up if he’s indeed out of the lineup for an extended period.”

The effort. 🤌@derric__k x @HuskerHoops pic.twitter.com/kZXRUXWZC2

— Nebraska On BTN (@NebraskaOnBTN) January 21, 2023

The game was decided on 3-pointers and free throws

There are plenty of similarities between Nebraska and Penn State, and for the most part, that played out much of the game on Saturday.

However, the most glaring difference this season has been from behind the arc, which proved to be the difference. 

Penn State came in as the best 3-point shooting team in the Big Ten, averaging 11 made threes per game. The Nittany Lions were hitting a conference-best 39.6% from behind the arc on the season and led the league in 3-pointers made (196) and attempted (498). 

That directly carried over into PSU lighting the Huskers up to the tune of 11 made threes at a 37% clip on Saturday.

The struggles weren’t just on the perimeter, either. Free throws remain a problem for Nebraska, as it finished a dismal 13-of-24 at the line. 

The primary culprits were freshmen Denim Dawson and Jamarques Lawrence, who again saw extensive roles with Gary and Bandoumel out. 

Dawson, who made his second-straight start and had a team-high nine rebounds, went 1-for-4 on free throws. Lawrence played 15 minutes off the bench and missed all five attempts at the stripe.

SAM SLAM. 💥@SammyG_22 x @HuskerHoops pic.twitter.com/gRXnFBs6Rz

— Nebraska On BTN (@NebraskaOnBTN) January 21, 2023

A spark from Tominaga and Wilcher

Nebraska’s offense was already struggling before losing Gary and Bandoumel. Now the Huskers need all the help they can get.

Keisei Tominaga and Wilcher’s performances on Saturday might have been the brightest spots of all for NU in that regard.

Tominaga went scoreless and only took two shots in the first half. But he responded by going 4-for-7 from the field and with two 3-pointers after halftime, including his run of scoring 11 of 13 points to cut it to one possession.

After starting the first 18 games, Wilcher has come off the bench the last two outings. The change seemed to light a spark under him on Saturday, as he made his first four shots and started 3-for-3 from behind the arc at Penn State.

“Keisei got it going a little bit in the second half,” Hoiberg said. “It was good to see C.J. knock down some shots and guys looking for him and finding him.”

They said it

“He gives you such versatility on that end of the floor. He’s as good of a defender as I’ve ever coached guarding the ball. You take a weapon like that off, and then you’ve already got Juwan out of the lineup, it puts you in a difficult spot. Those are your two best perimeter defenders… You take those two guys out of the lineup, it puts everybody in a bind.”

NU head coach Fred Hoiberg on the impact of losing Emmanuel Bandoumel to a knee injury against Penn State.