Nebraska basketball's undefeated streak ends against Michigan

The Cornhuskers fall short in a close battle with the Wolverines

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:15pm

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Nebraska basketball's undefeated start to the season came to an end on Tuesday night as they fell 75-72 to Michigan in a close-fought battle. The Cornhuskers had built an early double-digit lead, but Michigan was able to work its way back into the game in the second half. Nebraska was held scoreless for the final three minutes, allowing Michigan to close out the victory.

Why it matters

Nebraska had been one of the surprise teams in college basketball this season, racing out to a 20-0 record and climbing into the top 5 of the AP poll for the first time in program history. This loss, while disappointing, shows that the Cornhuskers can compete with the top teams in the country and are a legitimate contender for the Big Ten championship and a deep NCAA Tournament run.

The details

Nebraska was led by Pryce Sandfort and Jamarques Lawrence, who both scored 20 points in the loss. However, the Cornhuskers were held scoreless for the final three minutes, allowing Michigan to close the game on a 6-0 run to secure the victory. Michigan was paced by Morez Johnson Jr., who had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while star forward Yaxel Lendeborg was held to just 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.

The players

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball team.

Pryce Sandfort

A player for the Nebraska Cornhuskers who scored 20 points in the loss.

Jamarques Lawrence

A player for the Nebraska Cornhuskers who scored 20 points in the loss.

Morez Johnson Jr.

A player for the Michigan Wolverines who led his team with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A forward for the Michigan Wolverines who was held to just 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting.

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What’s next

Nebraska will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host No. 9 Illinois.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, Nebraska has proven that they are a legitimate contender in the Big Ten and a team to be reckoned with in the NCAA Tournament. This close defeat against a top-3 team shows that the Cornhuskers can compete with the best teams in the country.