Oluyitan lifts Southern Utah over Nebraska 79-78 in 2OT

(Courtesy: SUU Athletics)


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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Cameron Oluyitan hit a 10-foot jumper with 2 seconds remaining to give Southern Utah a 79-78 double-overtime win over Nebraska on Saturday, handing the Thunderbirds their first road win over a Power 5 opponent since 1996.

Southern Utah (2-0) trailed Nebraska (0-2) by 11 at the half and led only twice in the final 20 minutes of regulation.

Dwayne Morgan hit four free throws in the final 16 seconds to put the Thunderbirds up 69-66 with 4.7 seconds left. But Nebraska's Jervay Green hit a 30-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to its first overtime.

Both teams struggled to score in the first overtime, sending the game to the second extra period tied at 69.

The Huskers took a 76-75 lead with 1:45 left in the second overtime on a pair of Dachon Burke free throws. But Southern Utah got a Harrison Butler dunk with 41 seconds left to cut the Nebraska lead to one, setting the stage for Oluytan's game winner.

Nebraska saw its halftime lead cut to one by Southern Utah's Jakolby Long, whose goaltended layup made the score 54-53 with 7:43 remaining. Cam Mack responded for Nebraska, hitting two jumpers to put the Huskers back up by five.

But Nebraska couldn't stretch the lead and Southern Utah used a 5 -0 spurt to go up 65-64 on Dre Marin's 3-pointer with 1:55 left.

"Nebraska, being a Big Ten opponent, they’ve got a great coach and to go on their floor and get an opening week win is a testament to our guys and how far they’ve come with the work they put in this offseason," SUU head coach Todd Simon said in a statement.

Nebraska opened up a 14-point lead late in the first half against the cold-shooting Thunderbirds, who missed their first 11 3-point attempts and made just 30 percent of their shots in the half.

Morgan led Southern Utah with 19 points. Malzen Fausett had 13 points. Long had 11 points. Oluytan had 11 points and Long and Marin added 10 points each for the Thunderbirds.

Kevin Cross had 19 points to lead Nebraska. Green had 18 points and Burke and Mack had 13 points each.

BIG PICTURE

Nebraska: Nebraska has struggled from the 3-point line in its first two games. The Huskers hit just 6 of 26 three-point attempts in their season-opening loss to UC Riverside Tuesday. Nebraska missed its first five shots from three-point range Saturday and finished 5 of 26.

Southern Utah: Saturday's game was the first in a three week stretch that will see the T-Birds play six of seven games on the road. Their only home game will come Nov. 29 against West Coast Baptist.

UP NEXT

Nebraska hosts South Dakota St. Friday

Southern Utah is at BYU Wednesday

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