Nebraska Men's Basketball Falls To Iowa On Senior Day

Despite a game-high 24 points from Juwan Gary, Nebraska fell to Iowa, 83-68, on Senior Day at Pinnacle Bank Arena Sunday afternoon.

Gary, one of seven Husker seniors playing their last home game on Sunday, hit 7-of-15 shots from the field and added seven rebounds, but Nebraska shot just 35 percent from the field in falling to 17-14 and 7-13 in the Big Ten.

Payton Sandfort had 22 points and eight boards to pace four Hawkeyes in double figures, as Iowa (16-15. 7-13 Big Ten) clinched the final spot in next week’s Big Ten Tournament.  Pryce Sandford added 16 points and 11 rebounds off the bench as Iowa got 34 points from its bench in the win.

Nebraska cut a six-point halftime deficit to 47-45 on a Gary basket with 16:05 left, but Josh Dix, who had 11 of his 15 points in the second half, keyed a 7-0 run with five straight points to put the visitors up 54-45 with 13:23 remaining.

Nebraska stayed within striking distance and used a 5-0 run to get to within 73-66 after a pair of free throws from Sam Hoiberg, who finished with a season-high 12 points, with just over five minutes remaining.

The Huskers would get no closer, making one field goal in the final five minutes as Iowa put the game away down the stretch.

Nebraska got off to blistering start, as Gary hit his first two 3-pointers before Hoiberg’s 3-pointer gave the Huskers an early 9-2 lead just 2:30 into the contest.

The Huskers eventually built an 18-10 cushion after a Brice Williams steal and basket with just over 12 minutes left in the first half, but the Huskers would come back. Iowa ran off 11 straight points over the next two minutes, taking a 21-18 lead on Brock Harding 3-pointer with 10:08 left in the half .

Iowa held Williams, who entered Sunday’s game scoring 20+ points in nine of the last 10 games, to just seven points.

Nebraska trailed 28-25 before an Ahron Ulis jumper and a Gary basket gave the Huskers a one-point lead, but Pryce Sandfort keyed a 10-3un run that pushed the lead to 38-33. Williams made it a 3-point game with a layup with 26 seconds left, but Payton Sandfort’s basket beat the first half buzzer and sent the visitors with a six-point lead.

Nebraska will await to see if its season continues with a postseason appearance.