OKLAHOMA CITY (Interstat) — In a taut, back-and-forth NCAA Tournament thriller defined by offensive execution and a single, decisive defensive stop, the Nebraska Cornhuskers edged the Vanderbilt Commodores 74-72 on Saturday at Paycom Center.

The second-round men’s basketball game, played before a crowd of 14,887, saw 12 lead changes and neither team lead by more than seven points. It was ultimately decided in the final two seconds when Nebraska’s Braden Frager converted a layup off a designed inbounds play to break a 72-72 tie, sending the Cornhuskers to the Sweet 16.

Vanderbilt, which finished its season 27-9, had one final chance, inbounding the ball under its own basket with 2.2 seconds remaining. The play was designed for star guard Tyler Tanner, but his contested three-point attempt from the wing as time expired missed the mark, sealing Nebraska’s victory.

The game was a study in contrasting styles. Nebraska, which improved to 28-6, won with remarkable offensive efficiency, shooting 55.8 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from three-point range. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, relied on volume shooting from deep and relentless offensive rebounding to stay in the game, attempting 37 three-pointers and grabbing 11 offensive boards to Nebraska’s two.

The first half set the tone for the nip-and-tuck affair. Nebraska used an early 11-0 run, fueled by three-pointers from Berke Buyuktuncel and Rienk Mast, to build a 13-5 lead. Vanderbilt responded behind the scoring of Tanner and Tyler Nickel, chipping away and eventually taking a brief lead before Nebraska closed the half strong. A late three-pointer from Pryce Sandfort gave the Cornhuskers a 39-32 advantage at the break.

The second half became a showcase for individual brilliance. Tanner, Vanderbilt’s sophomore guard from Brentwood, Tennessee, put on a masterclass, scoring 27 points, including 15 in the second half, to keep the Commodores within striking distance. He repeatedly answered Nebraska baskets with difficult drives and clutch three-pointers. His backcourt mate, Duke Miles of Montgomery, Alabama, facilitated the offense with six assists, though he struggled with his shot.

Nebraska countered with a more balanced and efficient attack. Sandfort, a junior from Waukee, Iowa, led the Cornhuskers with 15 points, hitting several critical shots down the stretch. Mast, the veteran forward, provided a steadying presence with 13 points and four assists. The bench made a significant impact, as Frager, a Lincoln native, scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and Buyuktuncel, from Bursa, Turkey, added 12 points.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With the score tied 70-70, Tanner drove and scored a tough layup to put Vanderbilt ahead with 58 seconds left. Nebraska’s ensuing possession resulted in a missed layup by Sam Hoiberg, but Mast secured the offensive rebound and scored on a tip-in to tie the game at 72 with 37 seconds remaining.

Vanderbilt called a timeout to set up a final shot. The ball, as expected, found Tanner, but his driving layup was heavily contested and missed. Nebraska secured the defensive rebound and called timeout with 2.2 seconds left.

Out of the timeout, Nebraska executed its play perfectly. Sandfort inbounded the ball from the sideline near midcourt, firing a pass to Frager cutting from the weakside block directly to the basket. Frager caught and laid the ball in cleanly before the Vanderbilt defense could react.

The final play was a microcosm of the game’s statistical story. While Vanderbilt’s offensive rating of 112.5 on 64 possessions was solid, Nebraska’s was superior at 114.3 on 65 possessions. The Cornhuskers’ ability to score efficiently, committing only 10 turnovers, ultimately offset Vanderbilt’s advantages in second-chance points and three-point volume.

Nebraska advances to the regional semifinals, continuing a season where it has consistently found ways to win close games. Vanderbilt’s season ends in heartbreak, a final possession away from extending a campaign that included notable wins over Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. The Commodores’ reliance on the three-pointer, making 13 of 37 attempts, was not enough to overcome Nebraska’s precise, high-percentage attack when it mattered most.