Huskers Overcome Adversity to Upset No. 10 Wisconsin

The Nebraska men have their first top-10 road win since 2014

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images via Wibbitz

Contents

1. Stats
2. Postgame video
3. Gallery
4. Slideshow
5. Highlights

"Why not us?"

That has been the message from Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg to his team over the last week. That mentality carried into an up-and-down affair Sunday in Madison against 10th-ranked Wisconsin.

Without top player Bryce McGowens, the Huskers came out with an energy now typical of this team since the restructuring of Hoiberg's contract. Nebraska forced Wisconsin coach Greg Gard to take a timeout less than four minutes into the game, with NU up 10-3.

The Huskers stretched that lead to 30-18 at the under-8 media timeout. Wisconsin then closed the half on a 14-6 run, leaving Nebraska with a 36-32 lead at the half.

That's when the officials decided to grab plenty of attention.

The refs called Nebraska for nine fouls before the first media break of the second half. Among those were a charge call drawn by Derrick Walker turned into a block, a flagrant 2 on Trey McGowens after the play resulting in his ejection, and a technical foul on Alonzo Verge for looking back over his shoulder after scoring through contact. There was also a jump ball called when multiple players jumped on Walker.

Nothing new for Nebraska to deal with more than just the five standard opponents, but quite a blitz to start the second half against a top-10 team.

At the 16:03 mark, Wisconsin took a 51-49 lead. The Badgers would not trail or have the game tied until the final two minutes of the game.

Trailing by as much as 10 and without either of the McGowens brothers, Verge took over. He scored 18 of his game-high 26 points in the second half.

Verge also helped his teammates keep their cool when calls weren't going their way. Multiple times he was pulling teammates into a huddle when they wanted to voice their displeasure with a call. Verge became the leader on the court that Husker fans had expected at the start of the season -- a point guard who took over when his team needed him.

But that foul early in the half gave Verge four fouls. He had to play extra smart on defense to avoid being removed from the court.

Good thing Verge was on the court, because he brought the Huskers within two points on a pair of free throws and then hit a 3 to give his team a 72-71 lead with 1:50 to go.

Two more free throws and Verge stretched the lead to three points. But he would foul on the next possession, putting Nebraska native Chucky Hepburn at the free throw line for three shots.

Hepburn missed the first, then made the next two.

Wisconsin elected to foul CJ Wilcher and put him at the line. A smart move, considering Wilcher missed the front end of a one-and-one.

On the ensuing possession, Hepburn's shot missed everything and went out of bounds. The Huskers inbounded the ball and escaped Madison with the 74-73 victory. Nebraska improved to 10-21 overall and 4-16 in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin slipped to 24-5 and 15-5.

According to Dave Revsine on Big Ten Network, Nebraska is the first 20-loss team to beat back-to-back ranked teams in 50 years. It is also the first road victory over a top-10 team for the Huskers since 2014.

Besides his 26 points, Verge had six assists, five rebounds, and a pair of steals.

Walker added an efficient 7-for-11 shooting to get to 15 points while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Wilcher also reached double figures with 10 points.

Nebraska shot better than 50 percent from the field in each half, finishing at 53.7 percent while making 5-of-18 3s.

The Huskers, carrying a three-game winning streak, will begin Big Ten Conference Tournament play Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central against Northwestern. Go here to see the tournament bracket.

Stats

• Box score

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Postgame video

Us. pic.twitter.com/HZGfU4cC4p

— Nebraska Men's Basketball (@HuskerMBB) March 6, 2022

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Gallery

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska forward Lat Mayen (right) celebrates the win with guard Alonzo Verge Jr.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl reacts after his shot at the buzzer from beyond halfcourt went over the backboard.

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Nebrasaka forward Derrick Walker works the ball against Wisconsin center Chris Vogt.

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Wisconsin guard Jahcobi Neath puts up a shot against Nebraska’s Eduardo Andre.

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin center Chris Vogt shoots as Nebraska forward Derrick Walker defends.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft keeps his players from running onto the court after Johnny Davis was injured on a flagrant foul during the second half.

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Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis stumbles in front of Nebraska guard Trey McGowens during the first half.

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Nebraska center Eduardo Andre dunks for two points.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nebraska’s Alonzo Verge Jr. is fouled by Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl during the second half.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nebraska forward Derrick Walker scores on Wisconsin center Chris Vogt during the first half.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg argues a call during the second half.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nebraska forward Derrick Walker and Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl scramble for the ball during the second half.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga shoots over Wisconsin guard Brad Davison during the first half.

© Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis is sandwiched by Nebraska’s Trey McGowens and Eduardo Andre during the first half.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin center Chris Vogt grabs a rebound against Nebraska forward Lat Mayen during the second half.

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Nebraska forward Derrick Walker shoots over Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl during the first half.

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Nebraska guard Alonzo Verge Jr. is defended by Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn (23) and forward Tyler Wahl (5) during the first half.

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Nebraska guard Alonzo Verge Jr. dribbles the ball past Wisconsin guard Brad Davison.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin guard Brad Davison is fouled by Nebraska guard Alonzo Verge Jr. (left) during the second half.

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska guard Alonzo Verge Jr. chases a loose ball in front of Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin guard Jahcobi Neath splits Nebraska guards CJ Wilcher (0) and Alonzo Verge Jr. during the second half.

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin guard Brad Davison looks to pass as Nebraska guard CJ Wilcher defends.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl looks for an open man during the second half.

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska forward Derrick Walker looks to pass as Wisconsin center Chris Vogt (left) and guard Chucky Hepburn defend.

© MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin guard Brad Davison turns the corner on Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga during the first half.

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Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg signals instructions to his team.

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis tries to retain control of the ball as Nebraska guard Trey McGowens defends.

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Slideshow

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Highlights

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