Williams Breaks School Record in 2OT Loss
Huskers.com
Columbus, Ohio – Despite a record-breaking performance from
Brice Williams, Ohio State outlasted Nebraska, 116-114 in double overtime Tuesday evening in Columbus,
The Huskers (17-13, 7-12 Big Ten) and Buckeyes traded blows in the highest scoring game in school history, as the 230 combined points tied a school record for most combined points in a game. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field and combined for 24 3-pointers (12 each) in a game between two teams on the NCAA bubble.
Williams was magnificent in the loss, as the 6-foot-7 senior guard finished with 43 points, breaking the school mark for points in a game which was set by Eric Piatkowski in 1994. Williams, who hit a career-high five 3-pointers, bettered his previous career high of 32 and was the most by any Big Ten player this season.
Williams, who had 20 points in the two overtime periods, tied the game with a free throw with 8.4 seconds remaining in regulation. In the first OT, he scored nine points, the last a jumper that put Nebraska up 99-95 with 1:07 left. Ohio State rallied, getting a 3-pointer from Micah Parrish with 46 seconds left and tied the game as Devin Royal split a pair of free throws with 7.2 seconds left the first overtime. On the Huskers’ final possession, Williams had a baseline jumper that wad just off the mark, sending the game to a second overtime.
Nebraska led 103-00 with 4:01 left in the second overtime, before Ohio State (17-13, 9-10) scored seven straight points, capped by Brice Thornton’s 3-pointer to give OSU a 107-103 lead. Nebraska would fight back, as a 3-point play from
Ahron Ulis pulled NU within one. The Huskers had one final chance after a Williams 3-pointer made it 114-111 with 3.5 seconds remaining. After a deflection on the sideline, OSU inbounded on the sideline with 3.3 seconds left. After the potential violation was missed, John Mobley Jr. sank a pair of free throws to seal the win for Ohio State.
Williams was one of four Huskers to finish in double figures, as
Juwan Gary had 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting and seven rebounds while
Connor Essegian (16) and
Andrew Morgan (14) also finished in double figures off the bench.
Thornton led five OSU players in double figures with 29 points, while Parrish (22), Royal (22) and John Mobley Jr. (20) all finished with at least 20 points.
The Huskers overcame a slow start to get back into the game and trailed just 45-39 at the half, as Williams and Gary had 12 first-half points for the visitors.
Ohio State started hot, hitting seven of their first 10 shots from the field to jump out to an early 19-8 lead in the first seven-plus minutes, but the Huskers would not go away. A five-point possession, capped by a three-point play from Conor Essegian got the Huskers going and Nebraska continued to chip away, getting to within 21-15 after a Williams jumper.
OSU led 27-18 with 8:31 left in the half before Nebraska ran off seven straight points over the next two minutes, including five from Gary to pull to within 27-25. The Buckeyes eventually built the lead to 38-30 after a Micah Parrish 3-pointer with 4:35 left in the half, but Nebraska battled back with a 7-2 run to pull within 40-37 after an Essegian jumper with 57 seconds left in the half. Nebraska was within 42-39 after a Williams jumper before Mobley ended the half with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to stretch the lead back to six.
Nebraska opened the second half with a 9-2 spurt, taking its first lead of the game on Williams’ 3-pointer with 17:05 left, but Ohio State would respond. With the score tied at 51, OSU went on a 15-4 run to take a 66-55 lead on a 3-point play from Royal with 11:29 left.
The Huskers would hang around and trailed 85-78 with 2:30 left before making a final push in regulation. The Huskers went on a 10-3 run, tying the score at 88-all on a three-point play from Morgan with 42 seconds left. Mobley would split a pair of free throws with 15.8 seconds left before Williams split a pair of free throws with 8.4 seconds in regulation and the Huskers held to force overtime.
The Huskers will host Cockeye on Senior Day this Sunday, March 9, at 11:30 a.m. The Huskers will honor seven seniors with pregame ceremonies beginning at 11:05 a.m.
