NCAA Basketball: Nebraska at Rutgers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Corey Sanders (3) drives to the basket against Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Evan Taylor (11) during first half at Louis Brown Athletic Center.

(Noah K. Murray | USA TODAY Sports)

PISCATAWAY -- Corey Sanders grabbed a pass from Mike Williams from the left-side of the arc with 7 seconds to play, then drove to the hoop. Rutgers' star sophomore forced a shot while fending off three defenders, and the ball glanced off the backboard.

A fight for the rebound emerged between Rutgers and Nebraska frontcourt players. But the ball took a long bounce, and Sanders was there to seize the weakside rebound.

The 6-2 guard put the ball back in one motion, banking the game-winner off the glass with one second remaining as Rutgers eked out a 65-64 win over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at the Rutgers Athletic Center.

"Just attack the basket -- that was the play,'' Sanders said. "I just wanted to get the ball on the rim, because I knew (center) C.J. (Gettys), a 7-footer, was down there to keep the ball alive and that's what he did today. He just kept it alive and I was able to finish it.''

The win marked Rutgers' first Big Ten triumph since last year's regular-season finale against Minnesota, and improved the Scarlet Knights to 4-41 in conference play since joining the league in 2014-15.

Sanders finished with a game-high 25 points on 11-for-18 shooting in perhaps his best game since arriving on campus last year.

Sanders, who was mobbed by teammates in the on-court celebration after Nebraska failed to get a shot off in the final second, added five rebounds and four assists as the Scarlet Knights (12-8, 1-6 Big Ten) snapped a seven-game losing streak.

"We wanted to get the ball in Corey's hands and make something happen,'' Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. "I thought we had a couple different options on that play and when he got to the rim, they iced the ball screens, so they did a good job, but he attacked like he was supposed to do and got the ball up on the rim. We wanted to have a chance and knew we would get a rebound attempt.

"He got the ball up to the rim, and I say if we get the ball to the rim, we're the best rebounding team in the country an I feel like we can get another (shot) off. Offensive rebounds have been huge for us all year, and great way to end a game like this, with our biggest strength, which is rebounding.''

In a game that featured nine ties and seven lead changes -- including five lead changes in the final four minutes -- Rutgers survived a string of Nebraska 3-pointers down the stretch.

Jack McVeigh's fourth 3-pointer of the game gave Nebraska a 64-59 lead with 1:30 to play.

Gettys responded with a basket 15 seconds later, and after a defensive stop, Deshawn Freeman drained a pair of free throws to pull Rutgers within 64-63 with 40 seconds left.

Sanders forced a turnover with 14 seconds to play, and Pikiell elected to call a timeout rather than letting the team play. Sanders did the rest, igniting a wild celebration from the 6,294 fans at the RAC.

"We wanted to keep (Sanders) on that side of the floor, and he kind of went and tried to split it, and then he put the ball up with guys coming at him, so he just put the ball up and it goes off the backboard (without) hitting the rim,'' Nebraska coach Tim Miles said. "(Nebraska's Tai) Webster is there engaged with C.J. Gettys and tips it, and Corey's momentum just takes him right there. That's a point-blank layup. You almost feel like it's rebounding an air ball almost. That's probably not what cost us the game, but (Sanders) is such a good athlete; he made so many other acrobatic plays that were well-contested. He really made a lot of plays tonight.''

Nigel Johnson added 11 points and Gettys and Deshawn Freeman scored 10 apiece as Rutgers survived despite getting outscored 43-34 in the second half.

"I'm just proud of our guys,'' Pikiell said. "It's not been an easy road. They've been fighting and clawing. We banded together, we stayed the course. I'm just happy for our guys and happy for the great environment today.

"These guys have been through a war, and this is what you have to do to win a Big Ten game. Play hard for 40 minutes. We did a good job. Every point matters. Our defense did a great job for us for 40 minutes.''

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.