Nebraska Reaches Sweet 16 After Last-Second Shot Rims Out

Oklahoma City – The Nebraska Cornhuskers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday night, narrowly defeating Vanderbilt 74-72 after a half-court heave by Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner rimmed out at the buzzer. ESPN and The Associated Press reported on the dramatic finish.

Dramatic Finish in Oklahoma City

The game came down to the wire, with Braden Frager of Nebraska scoring the go-ahead basket with 2.2 seconds remaining, giving the Cornhuskers a 74-72 lead. However, Vanderbilt had one last chance. Tyler Tanner caught the inbound pass and launched a desperation shot from beyond the half-court line. The ball appeared to fall through the net, but ultimately bounced out, securing the victory for Nebraska.

Key Moments and Performances

Nebraska started strong, going on an 11-4 run early in the game, fueled by Rienk Mast’s early scoring. The Huskers led 39-32 at halftime. The second half saw a back-and-forth battle, with Vanderbilt taking their first lead of the game with less than nine minutes remaining. The teams traded leads before Frager’s late basket proved to be the difference.

Looking Ahead

Nebraska will now face the winner of the matchup between No. 1 Florida and No. 9 Iowa in the Sweet 16. This marks Nebraska’s first appearance in the Sweet 16 in program history. Sporting News provided the box score details of the game.

Box Score Highlights

• Pryce Sandfort led Nebraska with 15 points and 5 rebounds.
• Tyler Tanner led Vanderbilt with 27 points.
• Braden Frager scored the game-winning basket for Nebraska.