MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WOWT) – Nebraska again fell short in its bid to pick up the school’s first win in the men’s NCAA Tournament on Friday, suffering a 98-83 loss at the end of Texas A&M (25-11).
The Huskers (23-11) didn’t have an answer for the Aggies’ versatile and relentless offensive attack. Texas A&M had three players with 20+ points. Wade Taylor IV led the way with 25, while Manny Obaseki had 22 and Tyrece Radord chipped in 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Nebraska’s shined per usual, with Brice Williams scoring 24 and Keisei Tominaga adding 21, but every time the Huskers began to climb back into the game, the Aggies answered.
Texas A&M dominated the boards throughout the night, out-rebounding the Huskers 40-28, including a 15-7 margin on the offensive glass.
It was a monumental season for Nebraska — with a top-three finish in the Big Ten and a March Madness appearance — but it comes to an end in the first round, and the Huskers remain the only power conference school without a win in the men’s NCAA Tournament; now 0-8 all-time.
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Head coach Fred Hoiberg’s squad is making their first appearance on the national stage since 2014 when Tim Miles was the team’s head coach. Now, this Husker team — led by the scintillating, electrifying Keisei Tominaga — will look to make history as the only Nebraska men’s basketball team to win an NCAA Tournament game.
The Huskers are 0-7 all time in March Madness.
Hoiberg knows what it takes to win in March, having been to four tournaments as the coach of Iowa State, and he believes his Husker squad is equipped to give Nebraska fans a chance to celebrate a tournament victory for the first time ever.
“I’m confident,” Hoiberg said in his press conference Thursday. “Our group has been through a lot. We’ve been through a lot of highs and lows. And I do think we’re playing as good as we’ve played all year right now.”
GAME INFO
- WHEN: 5:50 p.m., Friday, March 22
- WHERE: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
- WATCH: TNT
- LISTEN: Huskers Radio Network
- VEGAS ODDS: Texas A&M +1.5, O/U 148.5
Tominaga is a massive part of that success. He averaged just under 15 points per game as Nebraska’s leading scorer through the regular season.
Now, the 6-foot-2, 179-pound Japanese sharpshooter has a chance to become a figurehead of this year’s tournament for a national audience that’s always starving for a darling to get behind.
“I’m so proud of [Tominaga’s] growth over the last couple years,” Hoiberg said. “His first year at Nebraska, there were some games he just couldn’t play. He just got overwhelmed by physicality. Now, he doesn’t back down form anybody. he’s always gonna go out there and give you an effort. I’m just proud of him for everything he’s done to make him the type of player he is now.”
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