Nebrasketball Huge Road Win Against Clemson!

The Huskers second big test of the season after failing against Texas Tech, it’s safe to say they aced this one.

Miles Jacket Tracker: Unknown due to annoying stadium layout by Clemson. However, Miles was first seen without a jacket during the Isaiah Roby and Elijah Thomas “double technical” scuffle. I put that in quotation marks because Roby was kicked in the hip for shoving Thomas’ foot of his face.

Clemson started off hot, making their first four shots and holding Nebraska without a field goal for the first three minutes. The Huskers quickly caught back up with some help from the big three, Glynn Watson Jr., James Palmer Jr., and Isaac Copeland.

Experts predicted a defensive, low-scoring game, much like the Texas Tech game, but at least for the first half, scoring didn’t seem too difficult for either team. Both teams got to the rim with ease, which made it easier on Nebraska with their woes from three point land continuing. Nebraska shot 3-of-14 from behind the arc in the first half,

Heading into halftime the score was tied up 31-31, but Clemson forced a five minute field goal drought for the Huskers, who were up 29-25 around the four minute media timeout. Copeland had 10 points at the half, with Nana Akenten adding five early points from the bench.

The second half picked up right where the majority of the first half left off, lots of scoring and both Roby and Thomas getting into foul trouble. Both had two fouls at the break, then they each picked up their third within the first four minutes.

Then the JPJ show began, breaking an 11 three point shot drought (thanks Chris Basnett) off of the Copeland assist. After that, Palmer silenced a Clemson momentum surge with a euro-step slam, then another three, from NBA range.

A fourth foul on Roby at the 12 minute media timeout shadowed Palmer’s breakout however, with the Huskers leading 50-45.

After that the offense cooled down for everyone, which paved the way for Tanner Borchardt to make his presence felt. He came in for Roby and scored the Huskers next three points, as well as drawing two fouls on Clemson. Come Big Ten play, Borchardt is going to have a huge role.

It looked as if Nebraska locked up the win after a JPJ reverse dunk, but an offensive rebound and steal by Clemson quickly cut the lead to two with 45 seconds left. After two scoreless possessions from both teams, Watson was put on the charity stripe with 9 seconds left. Watson delivered and iced the win for Nebraska, with the final score 68-66.

The big three came up huge for the Huskers, combining for 48 points. It is concerning Roby has fouled as much as he has this early on, but hopefully that will change as Nebraska nears their first conference game this Sunday against Illinois.