Buffs Defeated at Nebraska, 46-41

LINCOLN, Neb. - Sophomore guard Cory Higgins scored 12 points and freshman forward Austin Dufault added nine points, however the Nebraska Cornhuskers held on for a 46-41 victory over the University of Colorado men's basketball team, Wednesday night.

"We had every opportunity to seize the lead but we couldn't finish," said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik on the AM 760 post-game show. "We put ourselves in position for the win and we need to not waiver with our competitive spirit. We had some empty possessions; it wasn't anything they did, it was what we didn't do. A lot of those turnovers we just lost the ball. That's getting back to being mature and a little stronger and again, time will heal that."

Colorado hit five three-pointers in the first half, the most against a Big 12 opponent this season. The five treys are also the second highest for CU in the first half this season.

Nebraska (16-8, 6-5 Big 12) never trailed and led by as many as eight points twice in the game, the latest after Brandon Richardson's free throw made it 38-30 with 6:18 remaining.

Colorado (9-16, 1-10) got a three-point play from Higgins, a Dufault basket and another Higgins jumper to cut the Nebraska lead to 39-36 with 4:07 left.

Ade Dagunduro's field goal and a three-point play gave the Huskers a 44-38 lead with 2:25 remaining and neither team scored another field goal in the game.

Dufault rallied the Buffaloes once more when he hit three of four free throws in the last 1:26 to cut the Nebraska lead to three with 11.4 seconds remaining.

Paul Velander sealed the win for the Huskers with a pair of free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining

Dufault's nine points to move him into 12th place on the school's freshman scoring list with 222 points. Higgins has led CU in scoring 15 times this season.

The Buffs out-rebounded the Cornhuskers 35-25, the first time all conference season they have done so and the first time this season by double-digits. Senior Jermyl Jackson-Wilson grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and Higgins added six.

Colorado shot 31 percent (13-of-42) from the field for the game. Nebraska didn't fare much better, hitting 16-of-46 (34.8 percent).

CU returns home to host No. 11/10 Missouri (22-4,9-2) on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 11:30 a.m. The game will be televised on the Big 12 Network (Altitude Sports & Entertainment).