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Dagunduro helps Nebraska snap skid against Texas

Feb 7, 2009 - 11:50 PM LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- A long-range jumper from an unlikely source helped Nebraska end a lengthy losing streak against a Big 12 rival.

Ade Dagunduro scored 17 points and knocked down a huge 3-pointer in the final minute as Nebraska knocked off No. 17 Texas for the first time in eight tries with a 58-55 victory on Saturday.

"First of all, we've been here many times and it's not come down like this, but the effort has been the same," Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said. "I think our guys, as they have every game, find a way to overachieve and stay in there. This time, at least, we got some good luck."

With a 53-52 lead and the shot clock running down, Dagunduro drained a basket from the arc to push the Cornhuskers' (15-7, 5-4 Big 12) lead to four with 52 seconds left.

It was just the senior's sixth 3-pointer of the season.

"That was a desperation moment," Dagunduro said. "The shot clock was ticking down, and I was just thankful to make the play. The shot went in, it put us up (four), and it was a huge shot."

A.J. Abrams pulled Texas to within one on a 3-pointer with 36 ticks remaining but, after Dagunduro made 1-of-2 from the free-throw line, the senior guard missed a jumper with two defenders in his face and Nebraska's Sek Henry sank a free throw to account for the final margin. A desperation 3-pointer by Justin Mason as time expired fell short.

"When you have three guys on you, you have to move the ball," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "We knew they were going to double it and obviously somebody is open. You need to stop and get out of it, and somebody was open. That's what has to happen."

Offense was hard to find early on as the Longhorns' struggles continued on the offensive end. After Gary Johnson sank a pair of free throws 13 seconds into the contest, each team went scoreless for the next three minutes.

Nebraska opened up an 18-10 lead with 7:46 left to go in the half, but the Longhorns woke up from there. Damion James scored seven points as Texas closed the opening 20 minutes on a 19-4 run to take a 29-22 advantage into the break.

Texas scored the first five points of the second half to open a game-high, 12-point lead 2:35 after halftime, 34-22. The lead stood at 10, 42-32, midway through the half before Nebraska jumped back in the game with a 16-3 run to set up a back-and-forth conclusion.

"Oh yeah, no doubt," Nebraska freshman guard Toney McCray said on whether he enjoyed the win more because it was against Texas.

"I've been watching Texas all my life, I root for them when I'm not playing them, so it was good playing against guys that I played against in high school. So for us to go out there and win was big."

A thunderous dunk by Gary Johnson put the Longhorns back in front, 50-48, with 2:58 left. Henry responded with a basket from the arc out of a timeout but Johnson followed with a jumper to continue the see-saw battle.

McCray put the Cornhuskers ahead for good on a jumper with 1:44 left and Dagunduro delivered the dagger from behind the arc to lift his team over .500 in conference play.

Abrams scored 16 points and James collected 13 and 12 rebounds for Texas (15-7, 4-4), which has has lost three in a row.

"I thought we had a great mindset coming in," Barnes said. "The fact of the matter is, it's a one possession game and we didn't do enough to get it done when we needed to. I'm sure they're disappointed."