Top-10 Showdown Set for Lincoln as Purdue Visits Nebraska LINCOLN, Neb. (Interstat) — A pivotal Big Ten men’s basketball clash with conference title implications is set for Tuesday night when the Purdue Boilermakers visit the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Both teams enter on winning notes, but with vastly different momentum. Purdue (19-4, 8-3 Big Ten) has weathered a recent rough patch, going 3-3 in its last six games, including narrow road losses to Indiana, UCLA and a home defeat to Illinois. The Boilermakers steadied themselves with a 68-64 home win over Oregon on Saturday, led by 18 points from guard Fletcher Loyer. Nebraska (21-2, 10-1), meanwhile, has been one of the nation’s most consistent teams, its only losses a 78-69 setback to Illinois on Feb. 1 and a 75-72 defeat at Michigan on Jan. 27. The Cornhuskers are coming off an impressive 80-68 road victory at Rutgers, powered by a career-high 26 points and eight rebounds from forward Rienk Mast. The matchup features two of the league’s premier offensive talents. Loyer, Purdue’s leading scorer, is averaging 18.0 points over his last three games, including a 29-point outburst in a 93-63 rout of Maryland. Mast has been a force for Nebraska, averaging 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over his last four contests. Purdue’s strength lies in its balanced attack and interior presence, with Trey Kaufman-Renn and Daniel Jacobsen providing key support. Nebraska counters with a deep, efficient offense and a staunch home-court advantage, having lost only once at Pinnacle Bank Arena this season. This game represents a critical opportunity for Purdue to secure a signature road win and tighten the Big Ten race. For Nebraska, it’s a chance to solidify its hold on first place and bolster its case for a high NCAA tournament seed. The Huskers won the season’s first meeting 83-80 in West Lafayette on Jan. 31, 2025. Tuesday’s winner will gain a crucial tiebreaker edge as the conference schedule enters its final month. Purdue continues its road swing at Iowa on Saturday. Nebraska hosts Northwestern on Saturday.