Nebraska’s Braden Frager (5) is embraced by teammates after hitting the game winning shot against Vanderbilt. (Courtesy: Daily Nebraskan)
Frager’s late finish sends Nebraska to first-ever Sweet 16 in thriller over Vanderbilt
Oklahoma City, Okla. — In a game defined by resilience and one final moment of clarity, No. 4 seed Nebraska punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history with a 74–72 win over No. 5 seed Vanderbilt in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday night at the Paycom Center.
Nebraska survived a furious second-half surge from Vanderbilt and sealed the victory on a decisive late sequence, as Braden Frager finished at the rim with nine seconds remaining after a heads-up assist from Pryce Sandfort.
“Really proud of our guys,” head coach Fred Hoiberg said. “If you want to advance, it’s all about how you handle adversity, and our guys did a masterful job of hanging in there.”
The Cornhuskers controlled much of the first half, executing efficiently against Vanderbilt’s pressure defense and shooting better than 55 percent when they were able to get shots up. But the Commodores’ defensive intensity and rebounding edge fueled a second-half run that flipped momentum and briefly gave them the lead.
Nebraska never unraveled.
Instead, the Huskers leaned on the toughness that has defined their season. Despite being worn down physically and mentally by Vanderbilt’s relentless pressure, they regrouped in key moments.
“It was tough to stay mentally strong,” Sam Hoiberg said. “That’s the reason we did all the summer workouts — for this time of year.”
With the game tightening in the final minutes, Nebraska found timely contributions. Second-chance efforts from Sam Hoiberg and Rienk Mast helped stabilize the Huskers during a stretch when Vanderbilt dominated the glass.
Then came the final possession.
After securing a rebound, Sandfort pushed the ball in transition without a timeout. As Vanderbilt’s defense collapsed on him, he found Frager cutting with a clear lane.
“I saw all five guys run at Pryce,” Frager said. “He made the unselfish play, and I just went and made a play.”
Frager’s finish gave Nebraska the lead for good, but the drama wasn’t over. Vanderbilt’s final shot hung on the rim — and nearly dropped.
“My heart sank,” Sam Hoiberg said. “I thought it was in.”
It wasn’t. The ball bounced away, and Nebraska’s sideline erupted.
For Frager, a Lincoln native, the moment carried added weight.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “We stuck together when we got down late, and that’s what makes us so special.”
Nebraska’s ability to withstand adversity proved decisive. Even after being out-rebounded in the second half and forced into 12 turnovers, the Huskers executed when it mattered most.
“We still had the lead, even when things weren’t going great,” Fred Hoiberg said. “Hang in there — we’ll get it going again.”
They did — and now they’re moving on.
With the win, Nebraska advances to the second weekend of the tournament for the first time in school history, continuing a breakthrough season that shows no signs of slowing down.