Zac Lee postgame press conference:

NU STAR

It was hard to find one Thursday night until the fourth quarter, when Niles Paul emerged to catch touchdown passes of 56 and 13 yards from Zac Lee. The latter was a tough catch against two Missouri defenders with 12:59 left for a 13-12 lead. The junior finished with a team-high six receptions for 102 yards.

HIGHLIGHT

Mired in futility for three quarters, Nebraska stepped out of it when Lee fired the 56-yard pass to Paul three plays into the fourth. Lee was just 11 of 29 for 81 yards before the TD pulled NU within 12-7.

BUSTED PLAY

Nebraska had its deepest penetration of the first half when Rex Burkhead took an option pitch and ran 14 yards to the Missouri 30 in the first quarter. On the next play, however, right guard Ricky Henry was called for a chop block, and NU never recovered from the 15-yard penalty.

OUR TAKE

Missouri likely got the Huskers to play right into its hands by having Lee throw 22 first-half passes in a driving rain. Alas, the defense gave the offense enough good opportunities and it started cashing them in. Credit Lee for hanging in there on a rough night with tough conditions, and throwing three TD passes in the final 13:56.

— Rich Kaipust