Illinois Bests Nebraska in Top-10 Basketball Showdown
In a closely contested matchup, the No. 5 Nebraska men’s basketball team faced defeat at the hands of No. 9 Illinois, falling 78-69 in Lincoln. This marks the second consecutive loss for the Huskers against top-10 teams, following a narrow defeat to No. 3 Michigan earlier in the week. Nebraska currently holds a 20-2 record overall, with a 9-2 standing in conference play.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg highlighted the team’s challenges in scoring within the paint. “I think we were 5 for 24 inside the arc. It’s hard to win a game when you do that,” Hoiberg remarked. “You make 15 threes — you should win that game, but their length bothered us in the paint and that’s the reason they went away with the win.”
The game saw the return of senior Rienk Mast and freshman Braden Frager. Mast, who missed the Michigan game due to a stomach bug, was hospitalized for severe dehydration earlier in the week. Frager had been sidelined with an ankle injury for two games.
Mast, still on the mend, managed to score just 5 points, all in the game’s final moments. Teammate Sandfort expressed confidence in Mast’s recovery, stating, “I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back and stronger than ever.” Hoiberg commended Mast for his resilience, noting, “He played like he was in the ER until 3:00 in the morning. He’s going to get his timing back. He’s going to get his wind back.”
In contrast, Frager made an immediate impact upon his return. The Huskers showcased impressive shooting in the first half, making 11 three-pointers, four of which came from Frager. Hoiberg praised Frager’s swift recovery, saying, “Everyone thought it was going to be two to four weeks, and here he is, whatever it is, nine days out back on the floor, out there fighting, battling, swinging.”
Pryce Sandfort continued his strong performance with four three-point shots in the first half, while Jamarques Lawrence and Sam Hoiberg also contributed from beyond the arc. Nebraska initially took a 9-4 lead, but Illinois kept the game close with several small runs.
Despite leading 39-33 at halftime, Nebraska struggled in the second half, with Illinois outscoring them 45-30. Illinois, now on an 11-game winning streak since losing to Nebraska in December, reclaimed the lead with a 16-5 run. Freshman Keaton Wagler played a pivotal role, scoring half of the points in that run and finishing with 28 points.
Although the Huskers briefly rallied, Illinois maintained control through strategic clock management and offensive rebounds. Hoiberg acknowledged Illinois’ strong play, stating, “Give Illinois credit. They’re playing really good basketball right now. To me, the game came down to our inability to finish off possessions. And they were really controlling tempo.”
Frager emerged as Nebraska’s top scorer with 20 points. With a five-day break ahead, the Cornhuskers aim to regroup before their upcoming game at Rutgers on Saturday.
