BOULDER — On the football field this decade, the University of Colorado has twice scored more than 60 points in wins over rival Nebraska. Wednesday night, basketball fans at the Coors Events Center could only daydream of games like those.
In a Big 12 matchup with far fewer fans and even less fireworks, the Buffaloes (9-12, 1-6 Big 12) suffered through their lowest offensive output of the conference season, falling to the Cornhuskers 55-53.
“They’re a tough, scrappy team,” CU junior Dwight Thorne said. “It just didn’t go our way at the end.”
CU appeared lethargic for most of the first 38 minutes, before 3-pointers by Nate Tomlinson and Thorne, who scored a game-high 21 points, cut Nebraska’s lead to one with 15 seconds left. But after two missed free throws by the Huskers, Cory Higgins couldn’t convert a driving layup, and then Levi Knutson’s desperation heave was off right.
“I thought we had a chance to (win),” Thorne said. “I thought (Higgins’) layup was going in. I think there was a little contact, but the referees left it up to us to make a play, and unfortunately we didn’t make the shot.”
The Buffs shot 45 percent from the field against what players described as a top-caliber group.
“They play very hard, and their help-side defense is probably the best we’ve played against this year,” freshman forward Austin Dufault said.
After taking its first lead of the game, 30-28, on Thorne’s fourth 3-pointer of the game, CU stagnated while the Huskers went on a 9-0 run to take a 37-30 lead with about 10 minutes left.
Despite five straight points by Higgins, who finished with 15, to cut the score to 39-37, CU never got the lead back.
An interference on Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, a missed one-and-one opportunity for Dufault and then ensuing baskets by the Huskers’ Steve Harley and Sek Henry gave Nebraska (14-7, 4-4) a 46-37 advantage and just enough cushion to hold off the late surge.
“It was just kind of one of those nights where everything felt a little bit off, I guess,” Dufault said.
Harley and Ryan Anderson led the Huskers with 12 points each.
CU also made news off the court as walk-on Andrew Zehnder was suspended indefinitely by athletic director Mike Bohn. Zehnder was arrested by CU-Boulder police for an incident Saturday.
NEBRASKA (14-7, 4-4 BIG 12)
Balham 0-1 0-0 0, Harley 3-6 5-6 12, Henry 2-6 0-2 6, Dagunduro 3-4 1-3 7, Miller 1-4 2-4 5, Richardson 1-3 1-1 3, Velander 1-4 1-2 4, McCray 3-3 0-0 6, Salomon 0-0 0-0 0, Anderson 4-7 3-6 12. Totals 18-38 13-24 55.
COLORADO (9-12, 1-6)
Jackson-Wilson 0-2 0-0 0, Dufault 3-8 0-1 6, Tomlinson 1-3 2-2 5, Higgins 6-12 2-2 15, Thorne II 7-13 2-2 21, Coney 0-1 0-0 0, Knutson 2-4 0-0 4, Eckloff 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 20-44 6-7 53.
Halftime — Nebraska 27-25. 3-point goals — Nebraska 6-16 (Henry 2-5, Harley 1-1, Anderson 1-2, Miller 1-3, Velander 1-4, Richardson 0-1), Colorado 7-18 (Thorne II 5-8, Tomlinson 1-2, Higgins 1-3, Coney 0-1, Dufault 0-2, Knutson 0-2). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Nebraska 30 (Harley 6), Colorado 22 (Higgins, Knutson 6). Assists — Nebraska 15 (Henry 4), Colorado 11 (Higgins 4). Total fouls — Nebraska 15, Colorado 20. A — 4,344.
