FIRST HALF ANALYSIS:
Nebraska started off with an 8-0 run to really amp up a very pro-Huskers crowd. Tyler Tanner would do his best to keep the Commodores in the contest early, as he would have a hand in the first 10 points. He would have 8 points early for Vandy. Rienk Mast was the go-to guy for Nebraska, as he started 3-4 from deep. The Huskers would shoot over 50% from the floor in the opening 10 minutes.
Tanner would control the game offensively for Vanderbilt, as he would keep things interesting. Nebraska would commit
a handful of turnovers, giving up 3 steals to Tanner. Braden Frager came in and gave the Huskers a jolt, scoring 8 points off the bench. The Huskers would finish the half shooting 60% from the floor and took a 39-32 halftime lead.
FIRST HALF STATS:
Vanderbilt shot 10-27 for 37% from the floor. They went 3-15 for 20% from deep and 9-12 for 75% from the free-throw line. The Commodores collected 15 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive. Vanderbilt had 6 assists and 4 turnovers.
The Commodores were led by Tyler Tanner, who had 15 points. Tyler Nickel led the way with 4 rebounds. Tanner also had 2 assists and 3 steals, leading each category.
Nebraska shot 15-25 for 60% from the floor. They went 6-10 for 60% from deep and 3-4 for 75% from the free-throw line. The Huskers collected 16 rebounds, but only 1 was offensive. The Huskers had 10 assists to 7 turnovers and 10 bench points.
The Huskers were led by Rienk Mast, who had 9 points and 3 rebounds. Sam Hoiberg had 5 assists. Braden Frager and Pryce Sandfort have 8 points each.
SECOND HALF ANALYSIS:
Vanderbilt came out a little bit better to start the second half. The Commodores started to shoot the ball well from deep, which really got them into this game. The officials got into things, even if for all the wrong reasons in Nebraska’s eyes, and the calls were starting to get much tighter. The subsequent foul trouble for the Huskers really got into their heads. Jamarques Lawrence would pick up his 4th with 11 minutes to go, while Sam Hoiberg and Rienk Mast each had 3 by this point.
Tyler Tanner, who kept Vandy in this in the first half, decided he was going to carry them the whole way. Tanner reached the 20-point mark with 10 minutes left, and had 25 with just over 5 minutes left. The Commodores would take their first lead of the night courtesy of a Tyler Nickel 3, and it looked as though the Huskers might let this slip through their grasp.
Each team would throw haymakers like their was only 30 seconds left in the 12th round of a fight, trying to find the knockout blow. Braden Frager would hit the eventual game winning layup with 2.2 seconds left, but only because Tyler Tanner’s half court heave hit the backboard, rattled around the rim and popped out.
FINAL STATS AND THOUGHTS:
Vanderbilt shot 24-58 for 41% from the floor. They went 13-37 for 35% from deep and 11-19 for 58% from the free-throw line. The Commodores collected 30 rebounds, 11 of which were offensive. Vanderbilt had 15 assists to just 8 turnovers and had 6 steals.
The Commodores were led by Tyler Tanner, who had 27 points. Devin McGlockton had 8 rebounds. Duke Miles had 6 assists. Tanner also had 4 steals.
Nebraska shot 29-52 for 56% from the floor. They went 9-19 for 47% from deep and 7-10 for 70% from the free-throw line. The Huskers collected 31 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive. Nebraska had 16 assists to 12 turnovers and had 17 bench points.
The Huskers were led by Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager, who had 15 points each. Frager’s were all off the bench, including the winning bucket with 2.2 seconds to go. Frager, Sandfort and Rienk Mast each had 5 rebounds. Sam Hoiberg had 6 assists.
In case you were wondering how close Nebraska was to losing, here you go.
For all of the bad luck that Nebrasketball has had over its entire existence, this is the one time where good luck actually befell us. That half-court heave by Tanner was halfway down, but a rotation too strong. My wife said I looked just as pale from that shot as I did the day she told me she was pregnant with our first child. I think my heart rate and stress levels weren’t that high though.
Nebraska has made the Sweet 16! Yes, you read that right! Nebraska Men’s Basketball. I can’t believe just how fortunate we are to have this team. They do not panic. They do not fold or give up. They scrap away with a blue-collar mentality. THAT is why Nebraska fans love this team.
A quick and completely deserved shout out to Husker Nation. The way these two games in OKC sounded were amazing. Let people say what they want about us, about how there is nothing to do here in Nebraska. Outsiders might be right, but there is no more loyal fanbase than ours. Time for the Children of the Corn to invade Houston, Texas next week. The Huskers will play the winner of Florida and Iowa. Go Big Red!!
