In a stunning upset, Nebraska claimed a 77-70 victory over Michigan State in Big Ten Conference play on Sunday night, marking the end of an 11-game losing streak against the Spartans. Juwan Gary, in his first start of the season, played a pivotal role, scoring 20 points and leading the Cornhuskers to a memorable win.
The Cornhuskers (8-2, 1-1) had not secured a victory over Michigan State (4-5, 0-2) since 2016, making this triumph a significant breakthrough. It was Nebraska’s first home win against the Spartans since 2015, putting an end to the longest active streak by one Big Ten team against another.
Gary stepped into the starting lineup in place of the injured Josiah Allick, who suffered an ankle injury in the previous game. Gary’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, shooting 8-of-11 from the field, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc. Nebraska connected on 10 three-pointers and shot 50 percent for the game, with an impressive 64 percent in the second half.
Michigan State, now below .500 after nine games for the first time since 2003-04, faced its first 0-2 start in Big Ten play in three years. Malik Hall led the Spartans with a game-high 22 points.
Trailing 34-31 at halftime, Nebraska surged ahead after the break, making nine of its first 11 shots and building a 51-45 lead with 12:04 remaining. However, the game remained closely contested, with Michigan State responding and taking a 63-60 lead with 4:54 left, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Tyson Walker.
Yet, Nebraska mounted a comeback, reclaiming the lead at 67-65 on Brice Williams’ crucial 3-pointer with 2:14 on the clock. Rienk Mast sealed the victory with a hook shot, contributing eight points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
Keisei Tominaga added 15 points, Williams scored 14, and C.J. Wilcher contributed 10 for Nebraska in this memorable win that not only snapped a lengthy losing streak but also highlighted the team’s resilience and potential in the challenging Big Ten Conference.
