Nebraska’s Historic Victory Secures First Sweet 16 Berth
In a thrilling NCAA Tournament matchup, Nebraska clinched its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance, with redshirt freshman Braden Frager securing the win with a last-second layup. The Cornhuskers triumphed over No. 5 seed Vanderbilt, 74-72, in an electrifying game in Oklahoma City, marking a significant milestone in the university’s basketball history.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg emphasized the importance of resilience in his team’s performance. “As we’ve talked going into this tournament, if you want to advance, it’s all about how you handle adversity,” Hoiberg stated. “And our guys did a masterful job of hanging in there.”
The pivotal moment came when Hoiberg opted not to call a timeout following a missed shot by Vanderbilt, recognizing his players’ advantage in the transition. Junior Pryce Sandfort capitalized on this opportunity, assisting Frager for the decisive basket.
The victory continued Nebraska’s momentum, improving their season record to 28-6, while Vanderbilt concluded their season at 27-9. The game began with Nebraska displaying assertiveness, backed by a robust fan presence at the Paycom Center. An early 8-0 run, highlighted by Berke Büyüktuncel’s three-pointer, set the tone for the first half.
Throughout the half, Nebraska maintained its lead, reaching a 39-32 advantage at halftime. Shooting at an impressive 60% rate, including six out of 10 three-pointers, the team demonstrated offensive efficiency. Rienk Mast led with nine points, while Frager and Sandfort contributed eight points each.
The second half unfolded with both teams exchanging significant shots, maintaining the intensity of the game. Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner kept his team competitive, reaching 20 points midway through the half, and eventually helped the Commodores take a 58-55 lead with eight minutes remaining.
Sam Hoiberg noted the increased pressure from Vanderbilt in the latter half. “That was a tough game, because they’re such a good team. That’s as much as we’ve been pressured all season long,” he commented, acknowledging the physical and mental toll on the team.
Despite Vanderbilt’s nine three-pointers in the second half, Nebraska regained the lead with Büyüktuncel’s layup, making it 68-67. The final moments saw dramatic exchanges, with Mast tying the game at 72 just before Frager’s winning shot.
Frager and Sandfort both ended with 15 points, leading the scoring for the game, while Mast added 13 points and Büyüktuncel contributed 12. Sandfort described the crucial final play: “I got it, saw some numbers that we had and came off that ball screen and saw Braden standing there wide open,” he explained. “He was screaming at me for the ball, so I knew he was gonna go make a play. But yeah, he had a wide open lane and made an incredible finish.”
The game nearly swung in Vanderbilt’s favor as Tanner’s final long-distance attempt narrowly missed, sealing Nebraska’s historic win. Reflecting on the tense conclusion, Sandfort remarked, “I just about died.”
Next, Nebraska awaits the winner of the matchup between No. 1 seed Florida and No. 9 seed Iowa, with their next game scheduled in Houston next Thursday. The Florida-Iowa game is set for tomorrow at 6:10 CT.
