No. 15 Michigan edges Nebraska, climbs Big Ten standings

Roddy Gayle Jr. had 12 points and five rebounds to lead No. 15 Michigan to a 49-46 win over Nebraska on Monday in a Big Ten contest in Lincoln, Neb.

Tre Donaldson scored 11 points, Danny Wolf had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double and Vladislav Goldin had eight points and 10 rebounds for Michigan (21-6, 13-3 Big Ten), which moved into a first-place tie with Michigan State in the conference.

Brice Williams led all scorers with 26 points for Nebraska (17-11, 7-10), which has lost three of its last four.

Nebraska took a 39-37 lead with 6:32 remaining, but Michigan answered with an 8-0 run to take a 45-39 lead with 4:25 left after five points from Wolf and a 3-pointer by L.J. Cason.

Trailing 45-41, Nebraska cut the deficit to 45-44 with 1:35 remaining in the game on a 3-pointer by Sam Hoiberg.

With 18.7 seconds left, Gayle hit two free throws to extend the Michigan lead to 47-44.

Michigan fouled Williams with 12.6 seconds left, and he made two free throws to cut the Wolverines’ lead to one.

Gayle was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one. Nebraska got the rebound, pushed the ball up court and got the ball to Connor Essegian, who missed a 3-pointer with under six seconds remaining.

Michigan’s Tre Donaldson tracked down the rebound and was fouled with 2.6 seconds left. He made both free throws to give Michigan a 49-46 lead.

Nebraska had one last chance to tie, but Berke Buyuktuncel missed a tying 3-pointer before the buzzer sounded.

Both teams struggled mightily offensively.

Michigan shot 29.5 percent from the field (18-of-61) and 18.5 percent from 3-point range (5-of-27), while Nebraska shot 25.8 percent overall (16-of-62) and 21.4 percent from 3-point range (6-of-28).