The Nebraska men's basketball team etched a new chapter in their history book with a commanding 76-47 victory over Troy, securing their first-ever NCAA Tournament win. The Huskers, seeded fourth, took charge during the final 10 minutes of the first half, igniting the crowd at Oklahoma City's Paycom Center, which was a sea of red thanks to the passionate Husker fans.
With this win, Nebraska improved to an impressive 27-6, setting a new school record for single-season victories. Next up for the Huskers is a second-round clash on Saturday against the winner of the Vanderbilt-McNeese game. Details on the timing and TV coverage will follow later.
Pryce Sandfort, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, was the star of the show, pouring in 23 points, with 17 coming before halftime. He was on fire from beyond the arc, hitting seven of his 12 attempts.
Jamarques Lawrence chipped in with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, while Rienk Mast contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. Braden Frager added 13 points off the bench, and Berke Buyuktuncel and Sam Hoiberg made their presence felt with solid contributions.
The Huskers were sharp from downtown, connecting on 14 of 39 attempts (35.9%) and shooting 43.1% overall. Defensively, they stifled Troy, holding them to just 28.3% shooting and forcing 17 turnovers, with 10 in the first half alone. Troy struggled to find their rhythm, managing only five 2-point field goals and going 8-of-28 from three-point land.
Nebraska's dominance extended to the boards, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds, leading to a 19-3 advantage in second-chance points. Their ball movement was crisp, with 20 assists to just six turnovers, and they capitalized on Troy's mistakes, boasting a 17-5 edge in points off turnovers and a 26-10 advantage in the paint.
The Huskers took control with a 12-2 run midway through the first half, fueled by Sandfort's shooting and a balanced team effort. By halftime, Nebraska had built a 41-25 lead, and they never looked back. Sandfort continued his scoring spree in the second half, pushing the lead to 17, and Nebraska eventually stretched it to 30 points with a 10-0 run.
Key Highlights:
- Nebraska secured its first NCAA Tournament victory, breaking an eight-game winless streak in the tournament.
- The team's 27 wins this season set a new school record, surpassing the 1990-91 squad's mark.
- Head Coach Fred Hoiberg celebrated his fifth NCAA Tournament win as a coach, adding to his previous successes at Iowa State.
- The Huskers have been on a roll, winning their last five postseason games and 11 of their last 12 neutral-site contests.
- Pryce Sandfort's 23-point performance marked his 29th double-figure game this season, with seven 3-pointers boosting his school-record season total to 120.
- Jamarques Lawrence surpassed the 1,000 career points milestone, while Braden Frager and Rienk Mast continued to deliver consistent double-figure scoring.
- Nebraska's 10-0 run in the second half highlighted their ability to dominate, marking their 30th double-figure scoring run of the season.
- The Huskers' proficiency from three-point range was evident, with 14 made triples marking their 22nd game with at least 10 threes, boasting an 18-4 record in such games.
Nebraska's performance was a testament to their grit and determination, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of their tournament journey.