As the 2026 regular season winds down, Penn State faced a tough challenge against No. 9 Nebraska on their home court.
Despite winning the tipoff, the Nittany Lions struggled from the start and ultimately fell to the Cornhuskers, 87-64. Nebraska, having a standout season, continued their strong run with this emphatic victory.
Mike Rhoades sent out a starting lineup featuring Kayden Mingo, Freddie Dilione V, Dominick Stewart, Josh Reed, and Ivan Jurić. The Nittany Lions briefly held a 7-4 lead, but Nebraska quickly turned the tide, capitalizing on Penn State's sloppy possessions.
Offensively, the first half was a tough ride for Penn State, marred by 11 turnovers and only one successful three-pointer. That lone shot from beyond the arc came courtesy of Josh Reed, who led the team in attempts but struggled with accuracy, hitting just three of his ten shots. Ivan Jurić was a bright spot on the boards, matching the game-high with six rebounds by halftime.
Kayden Mingo had a quiet first half, missing all three of his shots and logging just an assist and a rebound. On the other side, Nebraska's Pryce Sandford was on fire, hitting his first five three-point attempts and racking up 20 points by the break.
After halftime, Penn State aimed to inject some energy into their offense. Jurić made a strong start with a powerful dunk, but Nebraska responded with a nine-point run, fueled by Sam Hoiberg's sharp passing.
Despite Jurić breaking Nebraska's run with a basket inside, the Cornhuskers quickly answered with another eight-point stretch. Mingo managed to score a couple of times, and Penn State strung together two consecutive scoring possessions midway through the second half.
The Nittany Lions showed flashes of solid play, trying to chip away at the deficit, but a missed fastbreak pass from Mingo to Mason Blackwood halted their momentum.
Nebraska's lead extended to 20 after Hoiberg's and-one drive, leaving Penn State to play for pride in the final minutes. They continued to battle until the end, with Melih Tunca drawing a foul in the closing seconds amid a chorus of boos.
Jurić finished with an efficient 13-point double-double on 6-of-8 shooting, while Mingo led the team with six assists. Reed joined them in double figures for Penn State.
For Nebraska, Sandford was the standout performer, setting a career high with 33 points and earning a standing ovation as he exited the game.
With this loss, Penn State drops to 2-15 in Big Ten play and 11-17 overall, solidifying their position at the bottom of the conference as the postseason approaches.
In terms of player availability, Tibor Mirtić remains out.
Looking ahead, Penn State returns home for their "Autism Awareness Game" against Iowa next Saturday, with tipoff set for 12 p.m.