No. 12 Nebraska Pulls Away Late to Defeat Maryland

Braden Frager's 21 points and late surge help Cornhuskers match program-high in Big Ten wins

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Braden Frager scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds as No. 12 Nebraska used a late 18-3 run to pull away from Maryland for a 74-61 Big Ten victory on Wednesday in Lincoln. Pryce Sandfort added 16 points and 8 boards for the Cornhuskers, who matched their program-high in conference wins with 13. Nebraska trailed 48-45 before taking control in the final minutes.

Why it matters

The win keeps Nebraska in the hunt for a top-4 finish in the Big Ten standings, which would earn them a triple bye in the conference tournament. Maryland, meanwhile, is in danger of finishing in the bottom four of the league, which would require them to play an extra first-round game.

The details

Nebraska struggled early, missing 6 shots and committing 3 turnovers before Frager hit two free throws to get them on the board. The Cornhuskers eventually built a 31-24 halftime lead, but Maryland opened the second half with a 7-0 run to tie it at 39-39. The Terrapins took a 48-45 advantage, but Nebraska responded with an 18-3 surge, fueled by 3 baskets in the paint from Rienk Mast and 3-pointers from Sandfort and Frager, to pull away.

  • Nebraska matched their program-high in Big Ten wins, set in the 2017-18 season.
  • The Cornhuskers snapped a 3-game losing streak against Maryland.

The players

Braden Frager

A key contributor for No. 12 Nebraska, scoring 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in the win over Maryland.

Pryce Sandfort

Scored 16 points and had 8 rebounds for the Cornhuskers.

Andre Mills

Led Maryland with 19 points, 16 of which came in the second half.

Elijah Saunders

Scored all 15 of his points for Maryland from beyond the arc.

Solomon Washington

Contributed 13 points and 7 rebounds for the Terrapins.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcased Nebraska's ability to overcome a second-half deficit and pull away late, thanks to strong performances from key players like Frager and Sandfort. The win keeps the Cornhuskers in contention for a top-4 Big Ten finish, while Maryland's loss puts them in danger of having to play an extra tournament game.