Tominaga powers Nebraska to a critical 85-70 road victory over Michigan
In a game with significant postseason implications, Nebraska did everything it needed in a comfortable 85-70 win at Michigan.
Keisei Tominaga had a huge day, dropping 30 points to lead an impressive offensive performance for the Huskers. Four players scored in double figures, while NU shot 57.8% from the field, including a blistering 70% in the first half.
Nebraska took a seven-point lead into halftime and led by as many as 20 before all was said and done. With the win, the Huskers all but punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament and, with Wisconsin’s loss at Purdue, clinched the No. 3 seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament.
NU closes the regular season at 22-9 overall and 12-8 in conference play. That marks the program’s best league finish since 1992-93.
Tominaga ignites a red-hot first half
Michigan came out firing from the opening tip, making five of its first six shots and three 3-pointers. Fortunately for Nebraska, it woke up just as hot.
Tominaga made 9 of 12 shots and 4 of 6 threes to score 23 of his 30 points in the first half. The Huskers shot 70% from the field as a team with six 3-pointers and 26 points in the paint.
The problem was that the Wolverines never cooled off either, shooting 55.2% with eight makes from behind the arc at the break. Dug McDaniel, who didn’t play in the first meeting (suspension), led the charge with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from deep.
As a result, the Huskers went into halftime up 50-43.
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Second half
Nebraska didn’t slow down in the second half, either. The Huskers made eight of their first 12 shots and used a 16-2 run to push their up to 20 after six minutes.
Josiah Allick scored eight of his 15 points after the break, while Michigan’s offense finally came back to earth. The Wolverines missed 11 of their first 15 field goals, including six of seven 3-pointers to open the second period.
NU’s shooting cooled off down the stretch, but it kept Michigan at bay by going XX for XX at the free-throw line over the final 20 minutes.
After his impressive start, McDaniel went scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting in the second half.
