Michigan Wins 71-70 Over Nebraska On Walton Layup
ERIC OLSON, AP Sports Writer
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Derrick Walton Jr. scored the go-ahead layup with 21.8 seconds left and Nebraska missed two inside shots during a scramble before the buzzer, giving Michigan a 71-70 victory on Thursday night.
The Wolverines (11-4, 3-0 Big Ten) prevailed in a game that included 11 lead changes and 10 ties. The Cornhuskers (8-7, 0-3) lost for the first time in eight games at the new Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Glen Robinson III scored 19 points to lead five Michigan players in double figures. Jordan Morgan had 15 points, Nik Stauskas added 12 and Walton and Caris LeVert had 10 apiece.
Terran Petteway scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for the Huskers. Ray Gallegos and Deverell Biggs added 14 points and Walter Pitchford had 12.
The Wolverines, who beat Northwestern by 23 points on Sunday, couldn't put away the Huskers until the last possession.
Nebraska led 70-69 with 33 seconds left after Petteway made the front end of a one-and-one. He missed the second free throw.
On the go-ahead basket, Walton brought the ball up the court and passed to Zak Irvin. Irvin gave Walton the ball right back on the give-and-go, and Walton went baseline on Leslee Smith to make it 71-70.
Nebraska set up a final play with 9 seconds left, but Petteway missed a layup. Smith got the rebound, but his shot missed, too. Michigan celebrated at center court after the final buzzer.
The Huskers came into the game 7-0 at Pinnacle Bank Arena, and there was a big-game atmosphere for the conference home opener as the crowd of 15,012 filed in. The Huskers were playing at home for the first time since Dec. 21, and they had lost three straight, including last Saturday's 31-point loss at No. 3 Ohio State.
The Wolverines won their fifth game in a row without preseason All-American Mitch McGary, who is out indefinitely after having back surgery.
Nebraska had played Ohio State on even terms the first 10 minutes before collapsing. There was no collapse this time.
There were six lead changes in the first half before Walton put the Wolverines up 33-30 at halftime with a buzzer-beating shot from just beyond the half-court line. Walton's long shot came after the Huskers had tied it on Biggs' drive to the hoop. Michigan inbounded with 3 seconds left and Walker dribbled up to the big red 'N' at center court before launching his 50-foot swish.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)