Cameron Oluyitan drilled a baseline jumper with 3.5 seconds to play in double overtime to lift visiting Southern Utah to a 79-78 victory against Nebraska on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.
The Thunderbirds (2-0) overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to send the Cornhuskers to an 0-2 start and keep first-year Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg in search of his first win with the program. Cam Mack's layup attempt at the buzzer did not fall for the Cornhuskers.
Dwayne Morgan notched a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Southern Utah, which earned its first win against Nebraska in five tries. Maizen Fausett added 13 points, while Oluyitan (11 points), Dre Marin (10) and Jakolby Long (10) also finished in double figures.
Kevin Cross led Nebraska with 19 points, Jervay Green had 18 and Mack contributed a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists. Dachon Burke added 13 points.
Green hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime tied at 69. Mack had a chance to give the Cornhuskers the lead with 4.7 seconds to go, but missed a pair of free throws to keep Nebraska trailing by 67-66.
Green was unable to handle a lob pass from Mack for a possible go-ahead dunk or layup with nine seconds left in the first overtime. Mack missed a layup high off the glass on the ensuing possession, as the teams went to the second OT tied at 72. Neither side scored over the final 2:53 of the period.
Southern Utah tied the game at 12 at the 12:09 mark of the first half, but the Cornhuskers responded with a 16-2 run over the next 5:59. Thorir Thorbjarnarson scored seven points during the surge.
Nebraska led 37-26 at the break, overcoming a 3-for-11 effort from long range.
--Field Level Media
Southern Utah | Nebraska | |
Dwayne Morgan 19 | Scoring | Kevin Cross 19 |
Dre Marin 3 | Assists | Cameron Mack 11 |
Andre Adams 11 | Rebounds | Jervay Green 8 |
Dwayne Morgan 7 | Free Throws Made | Dachon Burke Jr. 4 |
Jakolby Long 4 | Steals | Jervay Green 3 |
John Knight III 3 | Blocks | Dachon Burke Jr. 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Southern Utah | 79 | 40.8 | 4-23 | 13-21 | 10 | 53 | 7 | 7 | 18 |
Nebraska | 78 | 37.0 | 5-26 | 19-29 | 15 | 40 | 5 | 9 | 13 |