Nebraska men’s basketball didn’t just bounce back on Saturday - they made a statement. After dropping two straight, the Huskers rolled into Piscataway and took care of business with an 80-68 win over Rutgers, leading by as many as 20 midway through the second half. In a conference where every road win is hard-earned, this one felt like a reset button - and a loud one at that.
“This is a great win for our team,” head coach Fred Hoiberg said postgame. And he’s not wrong.
Nebraska now owns six Big Ten road wins this season - a new program record - with three more still on the schedule. That’s not just a stat; it’s a sign of a team that’s learning how to win in the toughest environments, something that’s historically been a hurdle for the Huskers.
Rienk Mast, who’s been battling illness and inconsistency lately, looked every bit like the centerpiece Nebraska needs him to be. He poured in a game-high 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 34 minutes - his fifth 20-point outing of the season and the 17th of his college career. After averaging just 7.8 points and 3.8 boards over his last five games, Mast came out with purpose, and Nebraska made it clear early that getting him going was part of the plan.
“Just take the right shots, be aggressive, get to the rim,” Mast said. “I saw that first one go in; that was a good feel.”
And once he saw it drop, Rutgers had a problem on their hands. Mast took advantage of a smaller Scarlet Knights lineup, doing damage inside and showing off the kind of patience and control in the post that Hoiberg praised after the game.
Mast finished 11-of-20 from the field - the most shot attempts he’s taken in his five-year college career between Bradley and Nebraska. His assertiveness was a difference-maker, especially with Nebraska outscoring Rutgers 36-24 in the paint. The Huskers didn’t blow Rutgers off the glass, but they held their own - a near-even rebounding battle at 35-34 (8-8 on the offensive boards) helped keep the game under control.
Defensively, Nebraska brought the kind of energy that travels. Rutgers came in as one of the more disciplined teams in the Big Ten when it came to taking care of the ball, averaging just under 10 turnovers per game in league play.
But Nebraska’s scramble defense - Hoiberg’s signature - disrupted the rhythm early and often. The Huskers forced 15 turnovers, including 10 steals, and turned those into 15 points the other way.
The first-half pressure was particularly effective. Over the final 12 minutes of the first half, Nebraska forced eight turnovers, setting the tone and keeping Rutgers from ever finding a consistent flow. Cale Jacobsen’s activity on the perimeter was a big part of that - he got his hands on a number of deflections and helped spark transition opportunities.
“This, to me, was a full team effort,” Hoiberg said. And it showed.
Nebraska didn’t just win - they dictated terms for most of the game. That’s no small feat on the road in the Big Ten.
With the win, Nebraska moves to 21-2 on the season - just the 10th time in program history they’ve hit the 21-win mark. They’re also building a résumé that’s tough to ignore, especially with a major test looming.
Next up: a home showdown in Lincoln against No. 12 Purdue.
The Boilermakers narrowly escaped with a win on Saturday, closing out Oregon with a late run. They’re experienced, disciplined, and dangerous - everything you’d expect from a top-tier Big Ten squad.
But if Nebraska can bring the same energy, balance, and defensive intensity they showed at Rutgers, they’ll have more than a puncher’s chance. This team isn’t just winning - it’s evolving. And with March creeping closer, that’s exactly what you want to see.