Make that two NCAA tournament wins for Nebraska.
In front of a decidedly pro-Nebraska crowd in Oklahoma City, the No. 4 Cornhuskers won a 74-72 thriller over No. 5 Vanderbilt on Saturday night with a Sweet 16 berth on the line.
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They survived a near-miracle heave from Vanderbilt at the buzzer after their own late go-ahead bucket to secure the win.
Vanderbilt had rallied from a 39-32 halftime deficit to take the lead late in a game where both teams traded blows down the stretch. But backup Nebraska guard Braden Frager delivered the final shot for the Cornhuskers with a go-ahead layup with 2.2 seconds to secure the 74-72 lead.
Vanderbilt had one last shot and almost delivered a miracle. But a 3/4-court heave by Tyler Tanner rattled in and out as the final buzzer sounded.
Replay angles show just how close Vanderbilt was to delivering one of the most memorable shots in NCAA tournament history as the bottom of the ball broke the plane of the basket.
Instead, its season concludes in heartbreak after one of the best games of this year’s tournament.
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Can Nebraska keep this going?
Nebraska, meanwhile, advances to the Sweet 16 to keep its dream season alive.
The win for Nebraska its just its second ever in the NCAA tournament. Its first was on Thursday in the first round over Troy. The Cornhuskers were previously 0-8 in NCAA tournament play and the last power conference team without an NCAA tournament victory.
Now they’re two wins away from the Final Four and four from delivering an unlikely NCAA championship. And this tournament run is no fluke.
Pryce Sandfort celebrates Nebraska’s dramatic win over Vanderbilt as he walks off the court.
(Shane Bevel via Getty Images)
Heavyweight matchup lives up to its billing
Under seventh-year coach Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska started 20-0 and was one of the best teams in the country in the regular season. It entered NCAA tournament play with a strong metrics résumé as a top-14 team in NET, WAB (wins above bubble) and KenPom ratings.
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Vanderbilt likewise was in the top 14 in all three metrics after a strong SEC season, and Saturday’s game promised to be one of the best matchups of the second round. It delivered on the promise as the game turned into a slugfest down the stretch with both teams trading shots until Nebraska was left standing when the final buzzer sounded.
Nebraska built its first-half lead on strong 3-point shooting and finished the game shooting 57% from the floor and 47% from 3 (9 of 19). Vanderbilt bullied its way back into the game after halftime on the offensive glass, where it secured an 11-5 advantage to create repeated second-chance shots.
Those shots started to fall and allowed the Commodores to take their first lead of the game at 58-55 with 8:26 remaining. They maintained that lead until Nebraska retook a 68-67 lead with 2:28 remaining, setting up the dramatic final few minutes.
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Frager’s game-winner tied him for the Nebraska scoring lead with 15 points alongside starting forward Pryce Sandfort as four Cornhuskers scored in double figures. Tanner led all scorers with 27, but needed 30 to secure the Vanderbilt win.
An otherwise successful Vanderbilt season comes to a close short of the Sweet 16. Nebraska advances to take on the winner of Sunday’s game between No. 1 Florida and No. 9 Iowa in Houston.
