Aday Mara, Trey McKenney spark Michigan rally past Nebraska in Big Ten thriller
Aday Mara’s 10 points helped swing a top-10 showdown as Michigan erased a second-half deficit to beat Nebraska 75–72 on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 (final horn around 10:11 p.m. ET) at Crisler Center. The result mattered immediately for the Big Ten race and nationally in NCAA men’s basketball: it handed the Cornhuskers their first loss and pushed the Wolverines to the top tier of the league under Dusty May.
For fans searching nebraska vs michigan, nebraska vs michigan basketball, michigan vs nebraska, or michigan vs nebraska basketball, the ending was the story: a late defensive play and go-ahead finish from Trey McKenney decided a game that felt like a March preview in late January.
Aday Mara’s quiet impact inside
Michigan leaned on its frontcourt to stay attached when Nebraska was humming early, and Aday Mara’s efficient minutes showed up in the margin. He finished with 10 points on a perfect shooting night, adding rebounding and rim presence that helped Michigan survive long stretches without the lead. In a game where every possession tightened late, those clean interior conversions kept u of m basketball within striking distance when Nebraska’s spacing and pace were stressing matchups.
How the finish unfolded
The nebraska cornhuskers men's basketball vs michigan wolverines men's basketball timeline swung sharply in the final minutes after Nebraska led most of the night. Michigan finally pulled even late, then McKenney’s defensive timing created the pivot: he disrupted a Nebraska possession, Michigan pushed in transition, and McKenney converted a go-ahead layup with 1:07 left to make it 74–72. Nebraska had chances to answer, but missed late looks from deep, and Michigan closed it out at the line.
That closing sequence is why searches like michigan nebraska basketball, michigan nebraska, nebraska michigan, and nebraska michigan basketball are flooding recap feeds: Michigan’s first lead of the second half arrived at the only moment it truly needed one.
Nebraska’s hot start, cold finish
Nebraska’s first-half shooting was a headline all its own, with Jamarques Lawrence scorching the opening stretch and helping the Huskers build separation. Lawrence finished with 20 points, while Pryce Sandfort added 20, but Nebraska went cold from three down the stretch—missing a long run of late attempts after a red-hot opening half.
The absence of Rienk Mast also loomed. Nebraska was short-handed in the frontcourt, and while the Huskers defended and rebounded with urgency, the late offensive stagnation left little room for error once Michigan’s pressure tightened. Sam Hoiberg (13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals) filled gaps everywhere, but the final possessions didn’t produce the equalizer.
Quick numbers snapshot (Jan. 27, 2026):
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Final (michigan basketball score / nebraska basketball score) | Michigan 75, Nebraska 72 |
| Michigan leaders | Morez Johnson Jr. 17 pts, 12 reb; Trey McKenney 11 pts |
| Nebraska leaders | Jamarques Lawrence 20 pts; Pryce Sandfort 20 pts; Sam Hoiberg 13 pts |
Where to watch and what it aired on
For viewers asking where to watch michigan wolverines men's basketball vs nebraska cornhuskers men's basketball or where to watch nebraska cornhuskers men's basketball vs michigan wolverines men's basketball, the game streamed on Peacock with a 7:00 p.m. ET tip. Nebraska radio coverage also carried the nebraska game for in-market listeners, and postgame highlights circulated shortly after the final horn.
Peacock’s Big Ten package has been a recurring answer for “where to watch” searches this season, so fans tracking michigan wolverines men's basketball and nebraska cornhuskers men's basketball should expect more marquee conference windows to land behind streaming.
What it means for the Big Ten race
The outcome rewrote the week’s framing. Entering the night, the nebraska vs michigan prediction conversation centered on whether Nebraska could protect a perfect record and whether Michigan’s tempo would finally crack a top defense. Instead, Michigan proved it could win a grinding finish, while Nebraska showed it can trade blows in hostile environments—even when short-handed.
Nebraska’s direction still runs through Fred Hoiberg, and the nebraska basketball coach struck a steady tone afterward as the Huskers moved forward to the next stretch of ranked opponents. Michigan, meanwhile, banked another résumé win in ncaa basketball and positioned itself for the next round of Big Ten pressure.
Sources consulted: NCAA.com, ESPN, Associated Press, University of Michigan Athletics (MGoBlue), University of Nebraska Athletics (Huskers.com), Peacock
