Michigan Wolverines guard Elliot Cadeau had seven points and seven assists on Tuesday night. Rick Osentoski / Imagn Images
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If this was a preview of the rest of the Big Ten season, buckle up.
No. 3 Michigan edged No. 5 Nebraska 75-72 Tuesday at Crisler Center in a matchup of Big Ten title contenders. The Wolverines (19-1, 9-1 Big Ten) handed the Cornhuskers (20-1, 9-1) their first loss of the season and snapped the nation’s longest winning streak, which ended at 24 games. But if there were any doubts about Nebraska as a Big Ten contender, the Cornhuskers erased them by hanging with the Wolverines while playing without two of their top three scorers in freshman Braden Frager and senior Rienk Mast, who missed the game with an illness.
Nebraska led for most of the way before Michigan tied the game at 72 with 2:16 remaining. Freshman Trey McKenney gave the Wolverines their first lead with a driving layup with a little more than a minute remaining, and Nebraska missed 3-pointers on its final two possessions. Nebraska had a final shot with 2 seconds remaining, but the game ended with Sam Hoiberg hoisting an off-balance jumper that didn’t fall.
The Wolverines overcame 19 turnovers and an off night from forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who finished with 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting. The Cornhuskers led by as many as 11 points in the first half and went to halftime up 50-48. The Wolverines missed eight of their first nine shots in the second half and committed seven turnovers in the opening minutes of the half to fall behind 60-52. After struggling to get stops for much of the game, Michigan turned up its defense down the stretch and held Nebraska to two points over the final 5:52.
Morez Johnson Jr. led four Michigan players in double figures with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Pryce Sandfort and Jamarques Lawrence each scored 20 for Nebraska.
This game was one of several in the coming weeks featuring highly ranked Big Ten teams contending for the conference crown. Michigan will play at No. 7 Michigan State on Friday, and Nebraska will play No. 9 Illinois on Sunday.
