BYU’s exhibition opener had the feel of a slow burn for a while, but the Cougars found their rhythm after halftime and pulled away for a 72-61 win over Nebraska on Friday night at the Marriott Center.
The first half was built more on defense, rebounding and a few flashes than on clean shot-making. BYU went just 3 of 19 from 3-point range in the half, including misses on nine of its first 10 attempts, yet stayed within striking distance. The night’s first real spark came on a fast-break alley-oop from freshman Bruce Branch III to junior Collin Chandler, one of the few highlights in a low-scoring opening stretch.
The sequel was even better. In the second half, Chandler returned the favor with another lob to Branch, punctuating a strong finish for BYU in front of 15,864 fans. Chandler finished with 19 points, while newcomer Jaxon Kohler posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“The young’un was making veteran lobs,” Chandler said after the game. “I had to get him back.”
Friday was a busy one for the BYU fan base, with the ROC showing up for the men’s basketball exhibition, BYU’s 3-2 upset of No. 8 Texas Tech in women’s soccer at South Field and the buildup to ESPN College GameDay ahead of Saturday’s BYU-Notre Dame football game. Chandler noticed the atmosphere.
“The fans showed up today,” Chandler said. “It was awesome.”
Nebraska took a 32-28 lead into halftime, but BYU came out with a burst to start the second half, scoring seven straight points. Kohler opened the run with a layup, Chandler added free throws, and then Branch’s offensive rebound set up a Chandler 3-pointer that pushed BYU in front 35-32. The Cougars never gave up the lead after that.
Kevin Young said the difference was how BYU started attacking on the second chance.
“I thought in the first half they (Nebraska) did a really good job of rotating on the first drive,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “In the second half we started breaking them down a little bit more on the second drive and the extra pass.
We have a dynamic shooting team so if the ball can move … We go 7 of 17 (from the 3-point line) and 12 assists just in the second half. When we’re playing like that, that’s what we want our identity to look like.”
Chandler’s 3-pointer helped spark a stretch in which BYU hit four straight from deep, with Kohler and Rob Wright III joining in. That run stretched the margin to 44-37 with 15:15 left.
Nebraska kept hanging around and got within 65-61 on a basket by Leo Curtis with two minutes remaining, but Branch answered with a 3-pointer and Wright followed with a drive for two to make it 70-61. Then Chandler came up with a steal and capped the win with an alley-oop to Branch for a two-handed dunk.
“One of the reasons Collin wanted to come here was because he felt like we could open his game up a little bit more,” Young said. “I thought for the most part that was on display tonight.”
Wright shot just 6 of 16, but he still finished with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Branch added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. BYU shot 10 of 36 from 3-point range overall, but it won the rebounding battle 39-35 and outscored Nebraska 30-19 in the paint.
Nebraska, which beat BYU in an exhibition game in Lincoln last season and later reached the Sweet 16, shot 10 of 24 from beyond the arc. Cale Jacobson led the Huskers with 15 points, and freshman Jacob Lanier scored all 11 of his points after halftime.
Young said the result fit what he is watching most closely right now.
“I never take anything for granted,” Young said. “I do think this team will be able to put points on the board, but I’m really keyed in on our defense right now.
That team we played (Nebraska) is really good. Fred (Hoiberg) is one of the best offensive coaches in college basketball, and a great dude.
To turn that team over 18 times and to hold them to 61 points, that’s impressive.”
BYU will play its final exhibition next Saturday at Nevada against UNLV.
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