The Nebraska Cornhuskers secured a hard-fought 75-69 victory over the Oregon Ducks on Tuesday night in a game that was a tale of two halves. The Huskers dominated the first half, building a 20-point lead, only to see the Ducks come storming back in the second half. In the end, Nebraska made just enough plays down the stretch to hang on for a crucial Big Ten win.

A Tale of Two Halves

Nebraska came out of the gates on fire, shooting a blistering 58% from the field in the first half. They shared the ball, played tough defense, and built a commanding 48-28 lead at the break. It looked as if the Huskers were going to cruise to an easy victory, but the Ducks had other ideas. Oregon opened the second half on a 15-2 run, cutting the deficit to just seven points. The Ducks' defensive intensity picked up, and they started to knock down shots, making for a tense and exciting finish.

Frager's Ferocious Dunk

With the momentum slipping away and the home crowd growing restless, Nebraska needed a spark. They got it from forward Braden Frager. The 6-foot-7 junior rose up and threw down a thunderous dunk over an Oregon defender, a play that sent Pinnacle Bank Arena into a frenzy. The dunk was part of a crucial 8-0 run for the Huskers, which pushed their lead back to double digits and gave them the breathing room they needed to close out the game.

Key Performers

Nebraska was led by guard Keisei Tominaga, who finished with 22 points, including four three-pointers. Rienk Mast had a solid all-around game with 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. For Oregon, guard Jermaine Couisnard led the way with 20 points, while big man N'Faly Dante chipped in with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Ducks' second-half comeback was impressive, but their poor start ultimately doomed them.

Looking Ahead

With the win, Nebraska improves to 13-4 on the season and 3-3 in Big Ten play. It was a much-needed victory for the Huskers, who had lost their previous two games. They'll look to build on this performance when they travel to face a tough Iowa team on Saturday. For Oregon, the loss drops them to 12-4 and 4-2 in the conference. The Ducks will be disappointed with their performance, but they'll have a chance to bounce back on Saturday when they host UCLA.