Michigan State erases Huskers’ double-digit lead in second half

LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Athletics) – Keisei Tominaga scored 20 points, but a barrage of 3-pointers helped Michigan State rally on Tuesday for an 80-67 victory over the Nebraska men’s basketball team.

The Cornhuskers (15-15, 8-11 Big Ten) had four players score in double figures. Jamarques Lawrence added 15 points, and Derrick Walker chipped in with 13 points and two blocks.

Nebraska led by as many as 15 in the first half and took a 12-point lead into the locker room.

But Michigan State scored 54 points in the second half while knocking down 12 of 17 3-pointers.

Early in the game, the teams were tied at 10, but Nebraska went on a 9-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Sam Griesel to take a 19-10 lead.

The Cornhuskers added three points to that margin by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 38-26 advantage.

Nebraska did most of its first-half damage in the paint, scoring 20 of its 38 points close to the basket.

NU kept its lead intact early in the second half. A 7-0 run, finished off by Tominaga’s 3, grew the lead to 55-45 with 14:01 to go.

Michigan State then asserted control, outscoring the Cornhuskers 35-12 the rest of the way.

Nebraska capitalized on six Michigan State turnovers in the period, collecting eight points off those turnovers.