Huskers Fall in Overtime on the Road

Bowling Green, Ky. --- Tyrone Brazelton scored seven points in the final 33 seconds of overtime to lead Western Kentucky University to a 69-62 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a hard-fought battle Wednesday night in Bowling Green, Ky.

Brazelton's biggest shot came when he got loose on the wing and nailed a 3-pointer late in the shot clock to put WKU in front 63-58 with 33 seconds remaining. The senior guard then hit 4-of-4 free throws down the stretch to secure the home-court victory for the Hilltoppers (6-2).

Free throws and turnovers were the story of a frustrating night for the Huskers (5-2). NU hit a respectable 19-of-28 from the charity stripe, while Western Kentucky University was nearly perfect, connecting on 18-of-21 attempts, including a stellar 9-of-10 in overtime.

More frustrating than the missed free throws were lost possessions, as the Huskers committed a season-high 23 turnovers against just 12 assists. Highlighting the Huskers' struggles to operate smoothly was the end of regulation. Strong defensive play forced a shot-clock violation that gave NU the ball back with less than 10 seconds to go and the game tied. With a chance to win, Cookie Miller sprinted down court but lost control of the ball and the Huskers were unable to even attempt a game-winning shot.

Things didn't work out any better in the extra period, as Nebraska hit just 1-of-7 shots in overtime. Western Kentucky University made just two field goals of its own in overtime, as the Huskers held the Hilltoppers without a field goal for the first two minutes of overtime until Courtney Lee converted a traditional 3-point play to erase NU's only lead of the extra period and put WKU on top for good.

The play of the defense was again the bright spot for Nebraska, as the Huskers held the Hilltoppers to 40 percent shooting while holding WKU under 70 points for just the second time this season. The Hilltoppers struggled getting into any sort of a rhythm in their half court offense, relying on NU turnovers to score 31 of their 69 points. Western Kentucky University committed 21 turnovers of its own, but countered that by drilling 9-of-21 3-pointers, while holding the Huskers' to just 3-of-13 shooting from behind the arc, despite several open looks.

Aleks Maric paced NU with his second double-double of the season, scoring 17 points and adding 13 rebounds, while Ade Dagunduro added a career-high 17. Brazelton scored 10 points as one of three Hilltoppers in double figures, while All-America candidate Courtney Lee poured in 15 and Ty Rogers added 11.

Nebraska struggled in the first half getting its shot off, hitting just 9-of-22 (40 percent) from the floor as the Huskers trailed by five at the intermission. The Huskers were forced into 14 turnovers, nearly matching their first-half total in their initial road game of the year at Creighton, when NU had 17 miscues in the opening period.

Despite the turnovers, the Huskers trailed by just five, 29-24, at the break by holding WKU to just one field goal in the final 6:10 of the half. NU limited Lee to just five points, including 1-of-7 shooting from the field in the first half.

Ryan Anderson made the biggest splash in the first half, scoring nine points, including a putback in the final three seconds that cut the deficit to five points at the break. Steve Harley made a nice break to intercept a Hilltopper pass and drove the length of the court. His initial shot was contested by two WKU players and bounced off the glass and then the front of the rim before Anderson followed up for the final points of the frame.

Earlier in the period, Anderson kept the Huskers afloat by hitting NU's only two field goals over the first 8:02 of the game. Chris Balham then came off the bench and had consecutive baskets for Nebraska just 35 seconds apart to help the Huskers cut the lead to 15-13 lead at the 11:23 mark.

Western Kentucky University then scored seven straight points while turning up the defensive pressure to forge a 22-13 lead on Boris Siakam's basket at the 8:27 mark. Nebraska then chipped away at the lead while allowing just seven points the rest of the period.

Nebraska opened the second period on a 5-0 run to knot the game at 29-all but struggled again to get over the hump. NU had to push to get back even at 31- and 34-all, with the third tie coming on Dagunduro's 3-pointer with 16:02 to play.

The Huskers' forged an 18-7 run to take a 40-36 lead with 12:50 remaining and force a WKU timeout. NU got over hump with pair of Maric free throws and pushed out to its biggest lead of the game on Miller's driving layup at the 12:55 mark.

WKU responded with a 12-3 run to take a 48-43 advantage before Anderson hit a wide-open 3-pointer from the corner to pull NU back within a bucket. Maric made up that difference with a layup to bring Nebraska even at 48-48.

After a pair of Hilltopper free throws, Lee put WKU ahead by four with 4:18 left on a putback dunk off a D.J. Magley miss. Nebraska responded with another massive Maric dunk and then pulled within one as Maric made the front end of a pair of shots at the charity stripe.

Following an A.J. Slaughter free throw that gave WKU a two-point lead, Dagunduro's fade away jumper with 1:37 to play pulled the Huskers even at 53-53. A Walker putback of a Lee miss put Western Kentucky back on top by two before Dagunduro hit two free throws to set up the exciting finish.

The Huskers return to action on Sunday, Dec. 9, when they play host to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. and can be seen on FSN Midwest in the state of Nebraska and on ESPN FullCourt around the nation with Greg Sharpe (play by play) and Matt Davison (color) calling the game.

Nebraska Notes

• Aleks Maric recorded his second double-double of the year
• Ade Dagunduro had a season-high 17 points on the night.
• Nebraska fell to 0-4 in true non-conference road games under Doc Sadler and 1-1 in overtime games.