Huskers Drop Overtime Thriller To Gophers

Minneapolis, Minn. -- The Minnesota Gophers hit 10-of-13 free-throw attempts in overtime to escape with a 74-70 win over Nebraska in Williams Arena, Thursday night, handing the Huskers their first loss in six games. The Gophers (11-1) advanced to the overtime period thanks to a tip in by John-Blair Bickerstaff off a missed free throw with 7.5 second remaining. The Huskers had a chance for the win in regulation, but Cary Cochran's three-point attempt from the left wing with 1.2 seconds remaining sailed long. Nebraska falls to 7-4 on the season while Minnesota improves to 11-1, with seven straight wins.

The lead changed hands 13 times during the course of the game. The Huskers first big run came midway through the first half. With NU trailing 19-13, Cochran hit two straight three-pointers and assisted Ffriend on a dunk to pull the Huskers ahead 21-19. After giving up four points to the Gophers, NU added seven more to increase its lead to 28-23. Cochran would add another three-pointer with three seconds remaining in the half to send NU into the locker leading 31-27.

Both teams opened fast in the second half as NU led 41-40 with 14:03 left to play. Junior Kevin Augustine added to the lead with a three pointer from the top of the key, before Minnesota would score six straight points on buckets by Michael Bauer, Bickerstaff and Shane Schilling. Both teams went almost three minutes without scoring during the start of the final 10 minutes. Minnesota's Dusty Rychart ended the drought with a shot from the right side to pull the Gophers' ahead 50-49. Terrance Simmons pulled the Gophers ahead for the final time in regulation with 2:33 remaining when he hit a three from the left corner. Following a Husker timeout, NU senior Cookie Belcher nailed four straight free throws, including two with 25 seconds remaining, to put the Huskers up 59-56. After two Augustine fouls, Simmons was sent to the line for a one-and-one. After making the first, Simmons second shot rolled off right allowing Bickerstaff to put the tip in over NU's Brian Conklin and send the game to overtime.

Minnesota controlled the overtime period from start to finish, scoring seven straight points to open. Nebraska's John Robinson, playing in just his second game as a Husker, then nailed a free-throw and followed it up with a three pointer on NU's next possession to pull NU within three. After each adding two points, Robinson hit another three pointer, this one with 40 second remaining to close the gap to 70-68. But the Gophers hit 4-of-6 three pointers down the stretch to seal the four-point win.

Bickerstaff led all scorers with 17 points and added seven boards. Nebraska was led by Ffriend's 13 points and eight boards. Fields added a career-high 12 points and a career-high eight boards.

Nebraska will return to Lincoln on Friday morning and will prepare for a 1:05 p.m. contest on Saturday against Murray State in the Devaney Sports Center.

BARRY COLLIER QUOTES:

- I thought the game was very competitive. Minnesota came back a number of times from behind and we made numerous errors in the second half and throughout the game. We made mistakes defensively in the second half that were pretty key."

-"Bickerstaff's tip in is indicitive of their attacking mentally."

-(On Bickerstaff's tip in): "That was not lucky. It was a very good play. I couldn't tell how much contact was made, but he just got it done."

-(On if Bickerstaff's tip in deflated the Huskers): "We weren't deflated as much as they were competitive on their end."

-(On Cary Cochran's three-point attempt at the end of regulation): "We got an excellent shot but some of the them just aren't going to go in."

GAME NOTES:
-The Huskers fell to 7-4 on the year with the four-point loss, snapping a five-game winning streak.

-Nebraska has now lost 15 straight true road games dating back to a 64-59 win at Kansas on Feb. 10, 1999.

-The loss marked the first time this season that NU has lost when leading at the half. It also was the first loss when leading with 5:00 remaining this year.

-The Huskers competed in their first overtime game since March 4, 2000 when Texas A&M beat NU in overtime 83-76.

-Nebraska played in its fourth-straight game that was decided by four points or less.

-NU hit a season-high 11 three-pointers (previous best - seven), including two in overtime.

-Belcher scored all but two of his 10 points in the second half including four free throws in the final 2:30 of regulation. He also collected one steal to move into sole possession of 22nd in NCAA history with 302 career steals.

-NU shot less than 50 percent from the field for just the second time all season. (also at Pittsburgh).

-Nebraska didn't make a free throw until the 18:00 mark of the second half.

-Senior Kimani Ffriend reached double-figures in scoring for the ninth time in 10 games. He finished the game with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

-Junior Cary Cochran hit four three-pointers marking the second time this season he has hit at least four three-pointers.

-Junior John Robinson scored a career-high seven points, all in the overtime period.

-Junior Kevin Augustine tied a career high with three rebounds.

-Senior Rodney Fields hit a career-high three three-pointers and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds. He also finished with a career-high 12 points.