Basketball Big Ten Men's Scores and Standings (12/30)

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December 30
#18 Michigan State 80, Western Michigan 62
Rutgers 91, Columbia 64
Cockeye 112, New Hampshire 70
Nebraska 77, Southern 43

Standings
1. Michigan (10-3, 2-0)
1. Michigan State (11-2, 2-0)
1. UCLA (11-2, 2-0)
4. Nebraska (11-2, 1-1)
4. Illinois (9-3, 1-1)
4. Indiana (10-3, 1-1)
4. Cockeye (10-3, 1-1)
4. Maryland (11-2, 1-1)
4. Northwestern (10-3, 1-1)
4. Ohio State (9-4, 1-1)
4. Oregon (12-1, 1-1)
4. Penn State (11-2, 1-1)
4. Purdue (9-4, 1-1)
4. Rutgers (8-5, 1-1)
4. USC (9-4, 1-1)
16. Minnesota (8-5, 0-2)
16. Washington (9-4, 0-2)
16. Wisconsin (10-3, 0-2)

Games for Thursday, January 2
Northwestern at Penn State (6:00 PM - Peacock)
#20 Purdue at Minnesota (7:00 PM - FS1)
Rutgers at Indiana (7:30 PM - Peacock)
Maryland at Washington (8:30 PM - BTN)
#22 Illinois at #9 Oregon (9:00 PM - FS1)

Next Nebraska Game - Saturday, January 4
#15 UCLA at Nebraska (1:00 PM - FOX)

 

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Huskers Wrap Up Non-Con With 77-43 Win
Huskers.com


Connor Essegian had a game-high 20 points to lead three Huskers in double figures, while Nebraska put together a dominant defensive effort in a 77-43 win over Southern Monday evening.

Essegian matched his career high with six 3-pointers en route to his third 20-point night of the season and grabbed seven boards, as Nebraska improved to 11-2 on the season with its fifth straight win.

Brice Williams had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Andrew Morgan had 10 points off the bench, as Nebraska extended its home win streak to 19 games. Six Huskers had at least eight points, as Nebraska had 22 assists on its 26 field goals, including six assists by Rollie Worster and a career-high by Sam Hoiberg. The Huskers also matched a season high with 13 3-pointers.

Nebraska’s defense was the story, as the Huskers held Southern to just 25.4 percent shooting, including 3-of-24 from 3-point range. It was the lowest percentage allowed by Nebraska since Nov. 6, 2018. Nebraska held eight of its 12 opponents to under 40 percent shooting.

Nebraska got out quickly, racing out to a 12-2 lead in the first 5:09 to force Southern to take an early timeout. Williams keyed the run with seven early points before a jumper from Berke Büyüktuncel and a 3-pointer from Juwan Gary gave NU an early 10-point cushion.

The Huskers, who held Southern to 5-of-27 shooting in the first half, used a 11-0 run keyed by a pair of Connor Essegian 3-pointers to build a 22-point lead at 30-8 with 5:07 remaining in the half. NU eventually pushed the lead to 26 on a Büyüktuncel triple as Nebraska hit 5-of-11 from the arc in the opening 20 minutes.

Nebraska eventually stretched the lead to 30 at 53-23 after an 8-0 with 12:59 left. Southern eventually made a run, cutting a 31-poont deficit to 62-40 after a 9-0 spurt capped by a 3-pointer from Jayce Depron with just under six minutes remaining. The Jaguars (5-8) would get no closer as Worster’s layup stated a game-closing 12-2 spurt, including eight points from Gavin Griffiths, for the final margin.

Depron finished with 13 points and was the only Southern player in double figures.

The Huskers are in action on Saturday afternoon, as the Huskers host No. 15 UCLA. Tipoff is set 1 p.m. (CT) and the game will be broadcast on FOX and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network. Tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets.

 

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Postgame Notes

• Nebraska improves to 11-2 on the season for the second straight season. It matches NU’s best record since opening the 1991-92 season with a 12-1 mark after 13 games.
  
  
• Nebraska finishes its non-conference slate with a 10-1 mark, marking the sixth time since WW2 that Nebraska has finished non-conference action with one loss (2023-24; 2018-19, 2003-04, 1991-92, 1977-78).
  
  
• With the win, Nebraska has now won 19 straight at home dating back to December of 2023. The Huskers are one shy of the program record of 20 set two previous times.
  
  
• With tonight’s win, NU is 19-1 at home in non-conference action over the last three seasons.
  
  
• Nebraska had an 11-0 run in the first half, the 11th double-figure run of the season.
  
  
• Connor Essegian (20) and Andrew Morgan (11) both finished in double figures off the bench. NU now has 14 double-figure efforts from the bench this season.
  
  
• Essegian led all scorers with 20 points, his third 20-point game of the season and fifth of his career. It marks the 10th time in Fred Hoiberg’s six seasons that NU has had a player come off the bench and finish with at least 20 points.
  
  
• Essegian matched his career high with six 3-pointers (also vs. South Dakota and North Florida). He has hit five-or-more 3-pointers four times this season.
  
  
• Nebraska finished with 22 assists, its second-highest total of the year. In addition to Rollie Worster, who had six assists without a turnover, Sam Hoiberg added a career-high five assists.
  
  
• Brice Williams has reached double figures in 12 of NU’s 13 games, finishing with 11 points. He went over the 1,500-point mark for his career. Williams also matched his season high with seven boards.
  
  
• Nebraska tied a season high with 13 3-pointers, the third time this season NU hit 10-or-more 3-pointers in a game.
  
  
• Nebraska’s defense posted season lows in field goal percentage (25.4%), 3-point percentage (12.5%), 3-pointers made (3) and free throw percentage (37.5%).
  
  
• The 43 points allowed and 25.4 percent field goal percentage by Southern were the lowest since Mississippi Valley State had 37 points and 19.1 percent shooting on Nov. 6, 2018.
  
  
• Berke Büyüktuncel tied his career high nine rebounds, the fourth time this season he has grabbed nine or more rebounds.