Huskers Lose Thriller to Cowboys

Lincoln ? Oklahoma State became just the second Husker opponent to shoot 50 percent from the floor this season, and the Cowboys’ strong shooting was just enough to hand Nebraska a 76-74 overtime loss at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday.

Oklahoma State finished at 54.7 percent for the game, but the Cowboys were especially efficient down the stretch. OSU trailed 59-52 with 5:30 remaining in regulation before the Cowboys hit 4-of-7 from the field down the stretch and knocked down their final four free throws. Oklahoma State then hit 5-of-6 shots in overtime, while Nebraska was 0-of-5 from the floor.

Overall, from the time Nebraska led 59-52, OSU hit nine of its final 13 shots, while the Huskers were just 1-of-9. NU was held without a field goal for the final 2:55 of regulation and all five minutes of overtime.

The Huskers, who shot just 39.2 percent for the game, were able to stay close thanks to a strong performance at the free-throw line. Nebraska shot 87.1 percent from the charity stripe in the game, hitting 21-of-22 in the second half and overtime before Ryan Anderson’s intentional miss with 3.7 seconds left in overtime. NU finished 27-of-31, setting Big 12 highs for makes, attempts and percentage.

Free throws played a big role down the stretch. Oklahoma State’s James Anderson hit a 3-pointer and three free throws during a 7-1 Cowboy run that trimmed Nebraska’s seven-point lead down to one with 3:21 remaining in regulation.

Anderson hit Nebraska’s only field goal of the game’s final 10 minutes with 2:55 remaining, but an Obi Muonelo 3-pointer 25 seconds later tied the game at 62. The Huskers then fell behind by two before Anderson knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:25 left. NU again trailed by two late, before Cookie Miller sank two clutch free throws to tie the game at 66 with 20 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma State had a chance to win in regulation, but Byron Eaton’s contested jumper bounced of the rim in the closing seconds. In overtime, the Cowboys scored on each of their first five possessions. Marshall Moses hit the first basket of the extra period, before Paul Velander knocked down three free throws to give Nebraska a one-point lead.

Two more Miller free throws put NU on top for the final time at 72-71 with 1:58 left, but Anderson and Marshall connected on back-to-back baskets just 38 seconds apart to give the Cowboys a three-point lead. Ade Dagunduro then went to the line and hit a pair to cut the lead to 74-73 with 1:02 remaining.

After missing at the end of regulation, Eaton drove and hit what proved to be the game-winning shot with 32 seconds remaining. Trailing 76-73 with 14 seconds left, Anderson had a look from 3-point range for the Huskers but couldn’t connect. He then pulled down a rebound on an Oklahoma State missed free throw and the Cowboys elected to foul Anderson with three seconds remaining. Anderson hit the first free throw to close the gap to two and he intentionally missed his second attempt, but NU was unable to control the rebound as Oklahoma State came away with the ball and the victory.

The Cowboys improved to 13-5 overall with the win and evened their Big 12 Conference record at 2-2. Oklahoma State’s 76 points were the most Nebraska has allowed this season, while none of NU’s first 12 home opponents had scored more than 66 points in a contest.

Nebraska fell to 12-6 with the loss and dropped to 2-3 in league play. The Huskers also lost for the first time at home when leading with five minutes remaining since Doc Sadler took over the program. Sadler had been 40-0 at home in his Husker career when his team led with five minutes remaining.

Miller led Nebraska with a career-high-tying 19 points, as he set a season-high in points for the second straight home game. Miller was 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, as his nine free throws were the most by a Husker this season. Three other Huskers joined Miller in double figures, as Anderson had 14, Dagunduro 12 and Steve Harley added 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Brandon Richardson had a strong return from a four-game absence, scoring eight points in his first career Big 12 game.

Five Cowboys scored in double figures, including two off the bench. Anderson and Marshall each scored 18 points to help Oklahoma State outscore Nebraska 40-16 in the paint. Eaton added 12, while Muonelo and Keiton Page each had 10.

In the early going, it was Nebraska who had its offense working. NU opened the game with a 7-0 run, as Miller scored the first five points in only 1:09. Page scored the first five points for Oklahoma State, but it took him nearly six minutes to do so, as his 3-pointer cut the Husker lead to 9-5 with 14:04 remaining in the half.

Page's 3-pointer marked the beginning of a 7-1 Cowboy run over the next four minutes. A conventional three-point play by Terrel Harris capped the run and gave OSU a 12-10 lead near the midpoint of the half.

As Oklahoma State turned a four-point deficit into a five-point lead, Nebraska had trouble finding scoring options on the offensive end. Dagunduro was the only Husker to score for nearly six minutes, as he poured in six points while Nebraska's four-point lead turned into a two-point deficit. Richardson broke Dagunduro's streak with a 3-pointer that gave NU a 19-18 lead and Richardson then became the Husker offense, as he scored five straight Nebraska points while Oklahoma State used a 9-2 run to take a 27-21 lead. The Cowboys maintained the six-point lead until the Huskers closed the half with four straight points to pull with 29-27 at the half.

After Oklahoma State scored the first bucket of the second half, Harley scored five straight points to give Nebraska a 32-31 lead. The Cowboys answered by scoring nine of the next 11 points to lead by six five minutes into the half.

The Huskers came right back with six straight points to tie the game at 40, and then took a one-point lead on an Anderson 3-pointer following an Oklahoma State put-back. OSU quickly regained the lead and stretched it to as many as five before Dagunduro tied the game at 50 with 8:27 remaining.

Nebraska went back on top when Miller scored seven points during a 9-0 run that turned a two-point deficit into a 59-52 lead with 5:30 remaining. The Huskers would not hit a field goal the rest of the way however, as even 12 consecutive made free throws down the stretch were not enough to give Nebraska the win.

NU returns to action on Wednesday, when the Huskers host the Kansas Jayhawks in a 6:30 p.m. matchup that will be televised nationally on ESPN2.