Nebraska is unbeaten no more.
The No. 5 Cornhuskers went into Michigan and controlled most of Tuesday's matchup against the third-ranked Wolverines. But Michigan kept things close in the face of hot early 3-point shooting and rallied fora 75-72 win.
Nebraska got two looks at a game-tying 3-pointer in the game's final seconds. But both missed the mark, allowing Michigan to escape with the win.
Nebraska led for most of the game
Michigan took a 3-2 lead and didn't lead again until a 9-2 run secured a 74-72 advantage with 1:04 remaining. From there, the Wolverines didn't relinquish the lead and handed Nebraska its first loss of the season following a 20-0 start that was the best in program history.
With the Cornhuskers' loss, only two unbeaten teams remain in the top 25.No. 1 Arizona held off a late rallyfrom No. 13 BYU on Tuesday to improve to 20-0. No. 24 Miami (Ohio) was also 20-0 ahead of a late Tuesday matchup against UMass.
Nebraska (20-1) now joins Michigan (19-1) among the ranks of the one-loss teams.
Nebraska couldn't maintain scorching start from 3
The matchup was the toughest test yet for a Nebraska team that was unranked in the preseason and didn't join the AP Top 25 until a 9-0 start forced voters to take notice in the sixth poll of the season. Until the final minutes Tuesday, the Cornhuskers looked up to the task, despite playing without starting center Reink Mast, who was a late scratch due to an illness.
Nebraska shot 10-of-19 from 3 in the first half and went into halftime with a 50-48 lead despite Michigan's 66% shooting effort from the field. Nebraska countered with a 59% halftime field-goal rate buoyed by its hot 3-point shooting.
Nebraska extended that lead to 64-56 midway through the second half as Michigan's hot shooting went cold. But ultimately, Nebraska's 3-point shooting betrayed it. After a 52.6% effort in the first half, the Cornhuskers shot 1-of-13 in the second to finish with an 11-of-32 (34.4%) effort.
Michigan, meanwhile, climbed back at the free-throw line, where it enjoyed a tremendous advantage while shooting 19-of-23 (83%). Nebraska attempted just four free throws the entire game, hitting three.
Michigan survived late looks by Nebraska
With the game on the line, Nebraska went back to the 3-point shot in the game's final seconds. But Jamarques Lawrence missed an open look from the top of the key with 4.3 seconds remaining. And Sam Hoiberg missed a contested shot from the corner as time expired.
In the end, Michigan overcame an 11-point first-half deficit and a 6-of-26 (23.1%) shooting night from 3. A 27-point second half was enough to secure the comeback as Michigan limited Nebraska to 22 second-half points.
Sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr. led the Michigan effort with 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Wolverines avoided their second loss of the season after losing to unranked Wisconsin at home on Jan. 10. Up next is a date with rival and No. 7 Michigan State at home on Friday (8 p.m. ET, Fox).
Nebraska got 20 points each from Lawrence and Pryce Sandfort. But without Mast, it was outmanned on the boards as Michigan secured a 35-23 rebounding advantage. Up next for the Huskers is another tough test against No. 9 Illinois (4 p.m. ET, FS1) at home on Sunday.
