OU Suffers Heartbreak in 59-58 Loss to Huskers

Feb. 16, 2011

	1st	2nd	F
Nebraska	26	33	59
Oklahoma	27	31	58

Stats Comparison	OU	NU
Points	58	59
FG Made-Attempted	23-53	23-44
FG Percentage	.434	.523
3P Made-Attempted	5-14	5-15
3P Percentage	.357	.333
FT Made-Attempted	7-10	8-13
FT Percentage	.700	.615
Rebounds	28	27
Turnovers	11	11

OU	Stat Leaders			NU
Fitzgerald	15	Points	17	Diaz
Davis	8	Rebounds	8	Jeter
Blair	8	Assists	3	2 Players
3 Players	1	Steals	2	2 Players
-	-	Blocks	3	Diaz

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NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Most fans at the Lloyd Noble Center thought Oklahoma guard Cade Davis' shot with 3.6 seconds left counted as three points.

But officials reviewed the shot after the final buzzer and awarded Nebraska a 59-58 victory Wednesday night for its first Big 12 road victory in nearly two years.

"It's great to win," said Nebraska coach Doc Sadler, who thought Davis' shot was a 3-pointer. "It's been a long time since we've won on the road. To win a game like this has got to really help us."

Nebraska (17-8, 5-6) last won a league road game at Baylor on March 7, 2009. Wednesday's victory ended a 13-game Big 12 road losing streak and gave the Cornhuskers their first victory in Norman since 1999, and it came on their final trip as a member of the Big 12.

It was a relief to Sadler.

"It's a relief to win anytime in this league when you are Nebraska," he said. "They've been playing well at home. It means a lot to us."

Jorge Brian Diaz scored a season-high 17 points, Toney McCray had 12 and Caleb Walker added 10 for Nebraska, which moved into sole possession of eighth place in the Big 12.

Andrew Fitzgerald led three Sooners in double figures with 15 points. Davis scored 13 and Steven Pledger 11 as Oklahoma (12-13, 4-7) lost its fourth straight.

"Our inability to finish plays hurt us," Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said. "We knew points were going to be at a premium with the way they defend."

Nebraska has the best defense in the Big 12, allowing only 58.9 points per game.

Lance Jeter hit two free throws with 16.2 seconds left to give Nebraska a 59-56 lead. Then Davis knocked down the jumper from the corner.

"I thought I knew where I was on the court," Davis said. "I automatically assumed it was a 3. It may have just seemed that way because I had to fade back because the guy had a hand in my face."

Jeter missed a running 3-pointer as time expired, and both teams huddled at their benches preparing for overtime.

Meanwhile, officials gathered at the scorers' table and, after a short meeting, changed Davis' final shot to a two-pointer.

"It was a little too exciting, but it was nice to get that win," Nebraska forward Brandon Ubel said. "Thank God it was a two."

McCray hit a layup with 44.8 seconds left to give Nebraska a 56-53 lead. Ubel then sank a free throw for a 57-53 lead.

Oklahoma guard Carl Blair converted a traditional three-point play to pull Oklahoma, which lost to an unranked team at home for only the second time in 44 games, within one point.

That set up Jeter's two free throws.

Ubel had hit two shots in the lane before Jeter's 3-pointer from the wing gave Nebraska a 53-47 lead, its largest of the night, to cap a 7-0 run with 5:23 left.

Pledger converted three free throws a minute later to trim the gap. He then hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key 30 seconds later to tie it at 53.

The Big 12's worst two offenses combined to score 18.1 points below their combined average of 135.1 points per game.

Nebraska hosts Texas, while Oklahoma travels to Kansas State on Saturday.