Nebraska
Bailey, Harper combine for 45 points as Rutgers leaves Lincoln with win
The biggest question of Thursday night’s game inside Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln between Nebraska and Rutgers was this: Could the Huskers defend their home court against two likely NBA lottery picks in freshmen guards Dylan Harper and Airious “Ace” Bailey?
As the final buzzer sounded, the answer became clear: Not tonight.
Behind a combined 45 points from Bailey (24) and Harper (21), Rutgers left PBA with an 85-82 win over the Huskers, who drop to 12-5 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play. Steve Pikiell’s Scarlet Knights, who started four freshmen, improve to 10-8, 3-4.
The loss was Nebraska’s first at home in more than a year — not since losing to Creighton on Dec. 3, 2023. It’s the first loss to a Big Ten team since Michigan State on Feb. 28, 2023.
“This hurts. We hadn’t lost in this building in a long time, and we got to respond,” Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg said after the game. “We got to find a way to go out and reverse what’s going on on the road right now with our team and give ourselves a chance to win this weekend, hopefully by playing consistent. That’s the biggest thing. We got to be more consistent across the board.”
During this three-game losing streak, the Huskers’ once-stingy defense has given up 97, 104 and 85 points. And then the 3-pointers — there have been many. The Huskers allowed Iowa to make 17 and Purdue 19, which set a record for most treys made by an opponent. And Rutgers? The Knights made 12 on Thursday night. Bailey made four of them while Harper made three.
Hoiberg said he and his staff have charted every one of those 3s from Iowa and Purdue, and will do the same for tonight’s loss.
“A lot of them are happening in transition. Ten of them in conference have happened in transition,” Hoiberg said. “Miscues, soft close-outs, soft double-teams on the post. When we do it right, we’re pretty good. And again, it just goes down to consistency, that’s the biggest thing. We have to find a way to be a more consistent team and have better hands. Deflections, I think they had eight turnovers tonight. We’re better than that, we normally force more with hand activity. You got to find a way to force looping passes to buy your rotations time. But we’ll address it the film session tomorrow, and hopefully grow from it.”
Nebraska won the rebounding battle 42-40 and grabbed 19 offensive boards, which it turned into 25 second-chance points. But Rutgers also did damage in the offensive glass with 17 of them for 19 points.
“I thought our inability to finish possessions was the difference tonight,” Hoiberg said. “We got 19 of them, that’s a good sign. But we gave them 17. You find a way to get a couple of those defensive rebounds, I think we find a way to win that game. Just too many second chance opportunities. When they did miss, you got to find a way to get that thing.
“To me, it was toughness. Wasn’t an effort thing,” Hoiberg added. “We played hard. But just because you play hard doesn’t mean you’re tough. You got to find a way to finish off those possessions.”
A key stat that will stand out to many: free throws. Nebraska didn’t do well in that department, hitting just 17-of-27. And in a tight game in the second half where those freebies are crucial, the Huskers went just 6-of-12.
Under the microscope will be Braxton Meah, the 7-foot-1 senior who went 0-of-3 at the line in a stretch of a minute-and-a-half with his team up 76-72.
Another stat that tells a story: the shots near the rim. Like it did in the loss at Iowa, Nebraska struggled to make shots in the paint and ended the game going 9-of-18. Connect on a few more of those, and the win streak inside PBA could’ve been extended to 21 instead of ending at 20.
Nebraska heads to the East Coast to take on the Maryland Terrapins (13-5, 3-4) on Sunday at 11 a.m.
After consecutive road losses at Washington and Oregon, Maryland responded well by beating UCLA and Minnesota at home. The Terrapins were on the road at Northwestern on Thursday night and fell in overtime.
The Terrapins are 11-1 at home this season.
“We got a big game coming up on a short turnaround. And as I said to the guys in the locker room, I like the short turnaround to hopefully get this bad taste out of our mouths, to get back on the floor and compete again,” Hoiberg said. “Tomorrow is going to be a mental day, a lot of film, and put the game plan in. And then we’ll go a little bit harder on Saturday with the early game on Sunday.”
(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.
For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.
Born with a rare heart defect
Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.
“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”
His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.
“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.
The decision to operate
That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.
“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”
His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.
“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.
Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.
“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.
For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.
“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.
The comeback
Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.
“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.
Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.
“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.
Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.
“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.
Landstrom called it a special moment.
“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.
For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.
“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”
Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.
“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
4-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
14-19-24-30-34
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing
Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing
Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The New Orleans Saints made a big splash in free agency when they signed Travis Etienne Jr. to pair with Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Etienne’s addition probably means that the Saints won’t select a back with an early choice in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, don’t be surprised if the team adds another back with a later pick. If that’s the case, Emmett Johnson of the Nebraska Cornhuskers could be someone on their radar.
Etienne will likely be the featured back, but Kamara’s future beyond 2026 is in some doubt. Kamara turns 31 in July and is entering his 10th season with a big contract after already showing some possible decline. Behind them, Kendre Miller has proven he shouldn’t be relied on and 2025 sixth round choice Devin Neal has flashed potential but remains unproven. The Saints may be wise to add more talent to their backfield with a middle or later round pick.
Emmett Johnson bio
- Position: Running back
- College: Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Height: 5-feet, 10 inches
- Weight: 202 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
- 3-cone drill: 7.32 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.29 seconds
- Vertical jump: 35.5″
- Broad jump: 10′
Recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Mr. Football award at Academy of Holy Angels High School, Johnson began with the Nebraska Cornhuskers as a three-star recruit. He’d take a redshirt in 2022 then rushed for 411 yards with 2 scores in 2023 as part of a backfield committee. In 2024, Johnson picked up 598 yards on the ground and caught 39 passes for 286 yards with 3 total scores.
By 2025, Johnson was the Cornhuskers featured weapon and exploded onto the national radar. Johnson’s 1,451 rushing yards and 251 carries both led the Big Ten and were among the NCAA leaders. He also caught a team-high 46 passes and scored 15 touchdowns, as his 1,821 yards from scrimmage were second across the NCAA. Those eye-popping numbers earned him 1st Team All-American honors as well as the 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
Strengths
- Hits rushing lanes with authority
- Makes sharp cuts at top speed
- Decisive north-south runner
- Good acceleration into the second level
- Legitimate receiving threat
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t have breakaway speed
- Has trouble creating yards when the hole isn’t there
- Must maintain balance better through contact
- Doesn’t break many tackles
- Only one year of high-level production
Emmett Johnson 2026 draft outlook
Johnson’s 2025 tape and production are worthy of a high pick, but teams looking for a featured back might be wary of his lack of power. Still, Johnson has a strong chance of being picked somewhere on the second day and shouldn’t last later than the fourth round. His decisive one-cut and go style and receiving ability gives him a strong chance to be an instant contributor with an incredibly high upside of a potential starter.
New Orleans has had success with late-round picks and undrafted players at running back. Emmett Johnson won’t last that long. But, if Johnson slips into Day 3, the Saints could be tempted to add him and bolster their backfield in multiple ways.
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