Nebraska Basketball: Illini halt Huskers win streak

Illinois 60 Nebraska 59

Player of the Game:

Jon Ekey- It was hard to give this to just one player, but Ekey played the game of his life Wednesday. He was everywhere. Grabbing offensive rebounds. Knocking down 3-pointers. Diving after loose balls. You name it, Ekey did it. It was just the kind of performance that sparks a home crowd, which he did many times throughout the night. If the Illini can get production from role players like Ekey, they will be dangerous in the conference tournament.

Key Stat:

Second Chance Points- It seemed like every time Illinois made a three, it came off an offensive rebound. Illinois finished with 16 second chance points off of 11 offensive rebounds while Nebraska had just 5 off of 3 offensive boards. The Huskers struggled all night to rebound the basketball. Most of it was just working hard. Illinois clearly outworked Nebraska throughout the entire night. That’s got to change against Northwestern Saturday if the Huskers want to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive. 

Play of the Game:

Late in the second half, Ekey flew into the Illini crowd after a loose ball after two Nebraska players just watched it. It was an incredible effort that really deflated any sort of Husker comeback. It was less then a 10-point lead at that point, but that play really took it out of Nebraska.

Other Notes:

-Nebraska sees its five-game win streak snapped with tonight’s loss.

-The Huskers held Illinois to 37 percent shooting, the sixth straight game an opponent has shot under 40 percent.

-Tonight’s loss marked just the second time in 16 games this season Nebraska lost while outshooting an opponent.

-Nebraska’s 49 points tonight was a season low

-Leslee Smith’s nine points was his highest total since scoring 11 points at Ohio State on Jan. 4.

Thanks for reading and shoot me your reactions on Nebraska’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament now. I think the Huskers do, but their margin of error is small. MICROSCOPIC. 

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