The losing streak extended to five on Saturday when Nebraska scored 46 second-half points to turn a halftime deficit into a blowout win. Pryce Sandfort was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 20 after
being held to just two at halftime. The Iowa transfer was 4/9 from three in the second period, finishing the game with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
The Cornhuskers improve to 20-0 and head to Michigan on Tuesday with first place on the line between two of the best teams in the Big Ten.
THE STAT: It was a second half of divergent shooting percentages. In the second half alone, Minnesota shot 37.5% from the floor, 0.00% from three. Nebraska, in the same timeframe, shot 53.3% from the floor and 41% from three.
TURNING POINT: Langston Reynolds hit a fast-break layup with 17:32 in the second half. The basket put Minnesota ahead by eight points. And from that point on, Nebraska dominated. They went on a 21-4 run to take a nine-point lead with 10:00 left and Minnesota was not able to answer.
HOT: Sandfort was incredibly hot in the second half. He is the Cornhusker’s leading scorer for the season and Minnesota had to have felt pretty good that he had only two points at halftime. But that changed quickly in the second half and Minnesota was incapable of slowing him down.
NOT: The Gopher offense was 0/11 from three in the second half. Getting stops was a challenge, but this could have remained a competitive game if they had been able to shoot even a modest number of their open looks.
NOTABLE: Cade Tyson has been one of the Big Ten’s leading scorers all season but appears to be stuck. Over the last four games, Tyson has not been able to crack 15 points and has fouled out in two of those games. Averaging 14 points per game is not bad, but this limited Gopher team needs him to score closer to 20 if they are going to snap this losing streak.
UP NEXT: A rematch with Wisconsin on Tuesday in Madison. This will be an 8:00 tip-off on BTN.
