After a big Husker lead is blown up by the Gophers, Hoiberg says, ‘We’ve got to find a killer instinct.’

MINNEAPOLIS — From all red to all despair.

A dismal defeat was already on the way, but an appropriate scenario to sum up the second half would occur in those agonizing last moments. Nebraska was putting pressure on the Gophers, who were down by six points with less than two minutes remaining. I’m looking for a good deal. The Huskers almost had it in the backcourt twice. They almost swiped the pass into the frontcourt after that. Then it appeared that they might get a loose ball near the rim.

Nebraska never got it. It just became a Gopher layup. What in the world happened?

This is only a snapshot. As Husker fans who witnessed the game know, the question isn’t only about that play. It’s about the final 21 minutes of play on Wednesday night, when Nebraska watched a 17-point lead evaporate in a 76-65 loss to Minnesota.

What changed was “just our overall edge,” Nebraska’s Brice Williams explained. “We didn’t come out with a killer attitude and stomp on their necks.” We sort of stumbled into it, and they brought it to us. We were expecting them to come out and strike us. And we didn’t strike first. We were just hit.”

Husker head coach Fred Hoiberg had reinforced the same concept at the podium – and, more importantly, in the postgame locker room – to his squad. “We’ve got to find a killer instinct,” remarked the coach.

NU was outscored 54-26 in the final 21 minutes after leading 39-22. Nebraska was defeated despite the fact that Gopher big man Dawson Garcia, who had just scored 36 points against Ohio State, was crippled and played only seven minutes with 0 points.

However, Nebraska fell apart in the second half, converting only seven field goals as a team.

“It’s disheartening. I really enjoyed our first half. I liked how we were discussing it. “There was a lot of movement,” Hoiberg added. “And the turnovers in the second half, not just the loose balls.” In the second half, we turned the ball over 12 times. That is not possible on the road. You’re going to get pricked.”

At the half, Williams didn’t see anything unusual about the team. And Hoiberg didn’t notice any frazzled players in the huddles during the second half.

Minnesota simply stole the Huskers’ lead one play at a time. Until a small but boisterous throng made sounds bounce off the rafters of the old barn.

“As I’m learning, Big Ten basketball is super physical basketball,” Williams told ESPN. “So we need to improve our physicality and just shift our mindset when it comes to toughness and start taking it to teams.” We have potential, but if we are outworked and out-toughed, we will lose every game.”

Williams had 17 points in the first 20 minutes, but finished with 18 and fouled out with 2:24 remaining.

Keisei Tominaga was held without a field goal, scoring four points on 0-for-5 shooting.

Jamarques Lawrence had 16 points but only one assist to seven turnovers.

C.J. Wilcher had nine points before halftime but only finished with that much.

Rienk Mast finished the game with four points and five rebounds.

The Huskers, who had a nine-rebound advantage at halftime, were knotted by the end of the game and had given up 13 on the offensive glass.

“It started with the first few possessions, when we went after loose balls with one hand.” “We went after a few rebounds with one hand,” Hoiberg explained. “Give them credit for coming out with more intensity than we did.”

The Gophers had five players score in double figures, led by 15 points by Joshua Ola-Joseph, who shot 6-of-8 from the field.

After the first half, it appeared that Nebraska’s 89-60 loss to Creighton on Sunday would be a spectacular comeback. A successful start to Big Ten play.

“I thought that was the best we’d played all year.” “We were flying around in the first half,” Hoiberg added. “We were grabbing every stray ball.” Our blockouts were flawless. We performed an excellent job on the glass… And that got us out of transition and on the road.”

Brice Williams went 8-of-13 in the first 20 minutes, as if he controlled Williams Arena. Even a missed 3-pointer by him on a heat check resulted in his grabbing the rebound and completing the layup.

Minnesota suffered a setback when big man Garcia collapsed on the court just 2:15 into the game. He didn’t return until three minutes remained in the game, when a couple of free throws made it 32-22.

Despite his return, the Huskers completed the half with some nice ball. Williams and Mast played a beautiful two-man game that resulted in an easy bucket. A play from Mast to Wilcher to Juwan Gary for a slam that was executed from the greaseboard to the floor. At the half, the lead had grown to 39-24.

Meanwhile, the Gophers struggled to 35% shooting in the first half as Nebraska transformed a 16-15 lead halfway through the first half into a 24-8 surge.

“And then it flipped completely in the second half,” Hoiberg explained.

It also flipped quickly. Less than seven minutes into the second half, a 15-point lead had already evaporated.

“It’s hard,” Hoiberg admitted. “When you have these types of situations, these are difficult learning lessons for a team.” However, we must learn and grow from it. We can’t sit back and let this one effect the next. We have a big one at home on Sunday, and we’ll have to play a full 40-minute game.”

This will be against a 4-4 Michigan State team that is still smarting from its first Big Ten loss.

It only becomes more difficult. It’s not possible in this league unless you pack your killing instinct in your gym bag and bring it to the hardwood for a complete game.

“Some people are born with it. Some folks were able to breed it. “Some people have to concentrate on it,” Williams remarked. “I think right now we just have to focus on it.” We have it because we have demonstrated it, but we must continue to demonstrate it. “It’s all about consistency.”