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Nebraska ends Texas' bid for conference perfection

Feb 20, 2011 - 12:56 AM Lincoln, NE (Sports Network) - The Nebraska Cornhuskers saw an 11-point lead disappear in the final minutes, but held on with crucial free throws to take down third-ranked Texas, 70-67, ending the Longhorns' bid for conference perfection.

Brandon Richardson paced Nebraska (18-8, 6-6 Big 12) with 15 points, including four free throws in the final 42 seconds. Toney McCray added 14 points and six rebounds, while Jorge Brian Diaz scored 11 for the Huskers.

Nebraska has now won three straight since a three-game slide.

"What a great game," Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said. "We've had some games that we've played really well and come up on the short end. It's a great game and a great day for us."

Texas (23-4, 11-1), which was off to its best conference start since beginning the 1962-63 season 13-0 as a member of the Southwest Conference, was led by J'Covan Brown's 18 points. Jordan Hamilton scored 11 of his 18 in the second half, while Cory Joseph added 13 points in the loss.

"There is no question Nebraska deserved to win the game," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "(Nebraska) totally dominated the second half of the game; they got whatever they wanted inside."

Lance Jeter connected on a layup with 2:36 left, after missing a jumper, to give Nebraska a 64-53 lead. However, Hamilton was fouled while shooting a three less than a minute later, and made all three from the line to begin the Texas comeback.

Diaz missed two free throws with 1:39 to go, and Hamilton continued Texas' hopes for a win by burying a three-pointer only five seconds later, getting the Longhorns within 64-59.

McCray then sank the back end of two from the line, but Texas tied the game by scoring the next six points. Hamilton made the first of two free throws, and Alexis Wangmene got the rebound of the second before being fouled. He then made 1-of-2 before Gary Johnson grabbed the miss of the second, and drained a jumper.

On the inbound, a Nebraska player fell and Wangmene grabbed the ball before being fouled. Wangmene knocked down both tries to tie the game at 65 with 1:10 to play.

However, Richardson put the Huskers back up by making 2-of-2 from the stripe with 42 seconds to play, and Hamilton missed a three at the other end. It was a crucial sequence for Nebraska, which had an advantage heading into the final possessions.

Brown made two foul shots with 10 seconds to play, bringing Texas within 68-67, but Richardson drilled two moments later, and Brown was off the mark on a potential game-tying three.

The Longhorns scored the game's first five points and were up 17-12 midway through the first half, after Joseph sank a three and Brown knocked down a jumper.

Brown shot 5-for-8 and finished with 12 points in the first half, helping Texas carry a 33-26 lead into the break.

Nebraska's Andre Almeida opened the second half with a dunk, and a Diaz basket with 16:26 remaining tied the game at 38. Almeida connected on a jumper on the Huskers' next possession, and they continued to build their lead from there. Diaz hit a jumper with six minutes to play, and Eshaunte Jones drilled a three on Nebraska's next touch for a 60-49 advantage.

"We just needed to make some free throws," Sadler said regarding losing the 110point lead. "You don't get caught up in all that, there's too much going on."

Game Notes

Nebraska held a 39-34 rebounding advantage...Texas has been out-rebounded just four times this season...Almeida scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in a reserve role for the Huskers.