The Gophers men’s basketball team flirted with an upset of No. 7 Nebraska on Saturday, but were run over in the second half of a 76-57 loss at Williams Arena.

The Gopher (10-10, 3-6 Big Ten) were up 36-30 at the half and were 20 minutes from its first win over a top 10 ranked team since taking down No. 7 Michigan in 2021. Nebraska snuffed out that dream, out-scroring 46-21 in the second half.

The Cornhuskers (20-0, 9-0) remained undefeated and sent Minnesota to its fifth straight defeat.

The U welcomed back more than 30 former players for Alumni Day at The Barn, but it was Nebraska fans chanting “Go big red!” in the final minute.

Minnesota couldn’t make it a trifecta of upsets over Top 25 teams this season. They previously upset No. 22 Indiana 73-64 on Dec. 3 and No. 19 Iowa 70-67 on Jan. 6.

Minnesota’s halftime lead came on the back of nine made 3-pointers to the Cornhuskers’ two. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Bobby Durkin each had a dozen points for Minnesota. Crocker-Johnson didn’t score in these second half. Durkin finished with 16.

Pryce Sandfort scored 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half.

Guard Isaac Asuma dealt white foul trouble all game. He picked up two fouls in the opening three minutes and sat on the bench for the next eight minutes. He picked up his third early in second half and sat again.

Cade Tyson appeared to tweak his foot midway through the second half. The U’s leading scorer went to the locker room, but sat on the end of the bench to finish the game.

The Cornhuskers were without their third-leading scorer Braden Frager, who injured his ankle in the 76-66 win over Washington on Wednesday.

Minnesota remained without four scholarship players, including two starters, guard Chansey Willis Jr., and center Robert Vaihola.

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