Huskers Show Resilience, But Struggle Early in Overtime Loss to Purdue

Nebraska rallied from a 21-point deficit but couldn't complete the comeback against the veteran Boilermakers.

Feb. 10, 2026 at 11:39pm

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The Nebraska Cornhuskers put up a valiant effort against the Purdue Boilermakers, rallying from a 21-point deficit to force overtime, but ultimately fell short 80-77 in a back-and-forth thriller at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Despite the Huskers' impressive comeback, head coach Fred Hoiberg lamented that the team dug itself too deep of a hole early on, falling behind 14-1 in the opening minutes.

Why it matters

This game highlighted both the potential and the work still needed for the Huskers this season. While the team showed impressive resilience to battle back, the early struggles and inability to control the defensive glass proved too much to overcome against a veteran Purdue squad picked to win the Big Ten.

The details

Nebraska fell behind 40-24 at halftime after a disastrous start that saw Purdue jump out to a 14-1 lead just over 3 minutes into the game. However, the Huskers mounted an improbable comeback, rallying to tie the game at 71-71 on a putback by Rienk Mast with 12.7 seconds left in regulation. But Mast missed the ensuing free throw, sending the game to overtime where Purdue prevailed.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 11, 2026 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
  • Purdue jumped out to a 14-1 lead just 3:16 into the first half.

The players

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team.

Rienk Mast

A Nebraska player who hit a game-tying putback in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.

Purdue Boilermakers

The opposing team, a veteran squad picked to win the Big Ten conference before the season.

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What they’re saying

“Our message to our guys was we lost that one in the first three minutes. You dig yourself a 14-1 (deficit). Call a timeout and we're down double digits before the first media.”

— Fred Hoiberg, Head Coach

What’s next

The Huskers will look to bounce back in their next game as they continue Big Ten play.

The takeaway

While Nebraska showed impressive resilience to battle back from a large deficit, this game highlighted the work the team still needs to do to compete at the highest level in the Big Ten. Avoiding early holes and shoring up the defensive glass will be key focus areas moving forward.