OU Men Fall to Huskers in Dallas, 69-63

DALLAS (AP) - Nebraska came into the Big 12 tournament with a three-game losing streak. Now the Cornhuskers are in the semifinals after winning two in a row.

"A lot of people didn't think we had a chance to win a game here," Aleks Maric said. "But it wasn't luck. We played hard and showed what we can do."

Jamel White had 22 points, including nine straight in the final 2:16, and the Huskers beat Oklahoma 69-63 Friday night.

The Huskers (19-12) hadn't won in the conference tournament since 1999 before their opening-round victory over Missouri on Thursday. They followed that by beating Oklahoma (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today; No. 22 AP) for the second time this season.

Notes

During their pregame meal Friday, the Huskers watched film of their 59-58 victory over the Sooners in their Big 12 opener Jan. 7. That gave them plenty of confidence.

"No doubt," Jason Dourisseau said. "We know what it takes to beat a team like that. You've got to play them tough, battle them on the glass and possession by possession. It was truly a team effort."

The game was tied six times and there were 11 lead changes in the second half, the last when Charles Richardson made two free throws with 3:15 left to put the Cornhuskers ahead 56-55.

Terrell Everett missed the front end of a bonus situation for Oklahoma (20-8), then Marcus Walker penetrated and made a short bank shot to make it 58-55. Before Walker made two free throws with 4 seconds left, fellow freshman White scored nine straight points.

White was fouled with 2:16 left and missed the first free throw. He then made seven straight foul shots and added a jumper in a 2-minute spurt.

"That was huge. I mean, they grew up today," Dourisseau said. "This was a big game on a big stage and they both stepped up huge when we needed them to."

Nebraska, which had never won consecutive games in the Big 12 tournament, plays in the semifinals Saturday against Kansas (22-8). The Jayhawks (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today; No. 17 AP) have won 13 of 14 games.

Third-seeded Oklahoma is likely still headed to the NCAA tournament.

"We're supposed to win these games," Kevin Bookout said. "We're supposed to win the Big 12 tournament. That's how we play."

Only Kansas at 17-6 has a better record in the Big 12 tournament than Oklahoma's 17-7 mark. Both have won the tournament three times.

Since winning four straight one-point games, the Sooners have lost two in a row. They ended the regular season Sunday with a 72-48 loss at Texas.

Wes Wilkinson, Dourisseau and Walker had 10 points each for Nebraska.

Everett had 14 points for Oklahoma, and Austin Johnson had 12 points -- on four 3-pointers. The Sooners made 11 of 24 3-pointers, but that wasn't enough.

Oklahoma led 42-36 with 13 minutes left after Michael Neal and Johnson hit consecutive 3-pointers.

Nebraska only was 6-for-17 on 3-pointers, but its makes came at key times.

White quickly cut the gap in half when he called for the ball from Richardson, and hit from the top of the key. A few possessions later, Walker drove toward the basket, but passed out to Marcus Perry for a 3-pointer from the left corner. That finally pushed Nebraska back ahead, 46-44 with 9 minutes left.

The teams traded the lead five more times, the gap never more than two points, until Richardson's go-ahead free throws.

"I thought our team played really tough-minded in what was a hard-fought game," coach Barry Collier said. "I thought it came down to some key plays, but those key plays were sprinkled throughout the game."

One of the lead changes came when Walker made 2-of-3 free throws after a questionable foul call with 5:20 left. Johnson appeared to have a clean block, and was still palming the ball as he walked in disbelief toward the Oklahoma bench, where coach Kelvin Sampson also couldn't believe the call.

Oklahoma led 27-23 at halftime after Everett made a 3-pointer and assisted on David Godbold's 3. Those sandwiched a 3-pointer by Perry, who made the shot from the right corner despite being pushed by Godbold without a foul being called.

"They outplayed us. They were better," Neal said. "They defended hard and played more aggressive. They wanted it more."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Men Fall to Huskers in Dallas, 69-63

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