Brice Williams scored a game-high 30 points to lead three Huskers in double figures, as Nebraska rallied for an 86-78 win over Arizona State in the first round of the College Basketball Crown Monday evening.
While Williams posted his fourth 30-point game of the season, Nebraska (18-14) also got 18 points from Juwan Gary and 17 from Connor Essegian off the bench as the Huskers picked up their first postseason win since 2019.
Trailing 49-39 with just under 15 minutes left, the Huskers used a 14-5 spurt to cut the deficit to 54-53 after five straight points from Essegian with 10:08 left.
Essegian, who was held scoreless until the 10:30 mark, helped Nebraska regain the lead for good, scoring eight straight for the Huskers, who turned a 58-55 deficit into a 63-61 lead with 5:22 left. The Essegian basket started a 10-0 Husker run in less than two minutes as Nebraska built a 71-61 lead on a Sam Hoiberg 3-pointer with 3:29 left.
From there, the Huskers, kept attacking, building a 12—point lead before Williams capped his fourth 30-point night by scoring NU’s final seven points to seal the Huskers’ first postseason win since 2019.
Nebraska will play the winner of the matchup between Washington State and Georgetown on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. (CT)
While Williams posted his fourth 30-point game of the season, Nebraska (18-14) also got 18 points from Juwan Gary and 17 from Connor Essegian off the bench as the Huskers picked up their first postseason win since 2019.
Trailing 49-39 with just under 15 minutes left, the Huskers used a 14-5 spurt to cut the deficit to 54-53 after five straight points from Essegian with 10:08 left.
Essegian, who was held scoreless until the 10:30 mark, helped Nebraska regain the lead for good, scoring eight straight for the Huskers, who turned a 58-55 deficit into a 63-61 lead with 5:22 left. The Essegian basket started a 10-0 Husker run in less than two minutes as Nebraska built a 71-61 lead on a Sam Hoiberg 3-pointer with 3:29 left.
From there, the Huskers, kept attacking, building a 12—point lead before Williams capped his fourth 30-point night by scoring NU’s final seven points to seal the Huskers’ first postseason win since 2019.
Nebraska will play the winner of the matchup between Washington State and Georgetown on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. (CT)