Huskers Run Past Sooners, 105-99
Huskers.com
Pryce Sandfort had a career-high 27 points to lead five Huskers in double figures, as Nebraska rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat Oklahoma, 105-99, Saturday evening at the Sanford Pentagon.
Sandfort hit 10-of-18 shots from the field and added a career-high seven assists as Nebraska (4-0) shot 64.3 percent from both the field and 3-point line in the second half to overcome a 51-44 halftime deficit. It marked Sandfort’s second 20-point effort in the last three contests.
Rienk Mast added 26 points, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, to give NU multiple 25-point scorers for the first time since 2021, while
Berke Büyüktuncel (16),
Jamarques Lawrence (14) and
Cale Jacobsen (10) all finished in double figures,
Nebraska’s 105 points was its highest total in regulation against a Division I opponent since 2018, as the Huskers finished the night shooting 57.6 percent from the field, including 15 3-pointers, in posting its eighth straight win dating back to last season.
In the first half, both teams played at a blistering pace as Oklahoma took a 51-44 lead into the locker room. The Sooners shot 54.8 percent from the field while Nebraska shot 51.6 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes and got 18 first-half points from
Pryce Sandfort.
Oklahoma jumped out to 10-0 start in the first2:30 before the Huskers got going behind the shooting of Sandfort, who hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull within four. Nebraska stayed within striking distance and pulled to within 25-23 after a
Rienk Mast 3-pointer with 10:50 left in the half before the Sooners made another run.
The Sooners used an 11-0 run over the next 2:32 to build a 13-point lead at 36-23 after consecutive 3-pointers from Dayton Forsythe and eventually built a 16-point cushion before the Huskers regrouped. Trailing 49-36, the Huskers closed the half on an 8-2 run, including 3-pointers from Sandfort and Mast to get with seven at the break.
Nebraska trailed 63-53 after a Nijel Pack jumper with 14:37 left before taking control of the contest behind Lawrence, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half. The Huskers ran off eight straight points, including consecutive 3-pointers from the senior to pull within 63-61 to force and Oklahoma timeout. On NU’s next possession, Jacobsen’s 3-point play with 12:40 left gave the Huskers their first lead of the night at 64-63. The Huskers continued to roll as Lawrence basket and a Sandfort 3-pointer pushed the Husker advantage to 72-67.
The Sooners got to within 80-78 on a Pack 3-pointer with 7:25 left, but 3-pointers from Jacobsen, Lawrence and Mast keyed a 9-2 run made it 89-80 with 5:55 left. NU eventually built an 11-point lead with 2:43 left and withstood OU’s comeback by going 8-of-8 from the line in the final minute.
The Huskers return to action on Thursday night as Nebraska will face New Mexico in the first round of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. ‘
