Nebraska erased an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Arizona State, 86-78, Monday night in the first round of The Crown College Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.
Brice Williams scored 30 points on 8-for-16 shooting and 10-for-13 from the free-throw line to pace the Cornhuskers. Juwan Gary added 18 points while Connor Essegian tallied 17 points. Alston Mason led the Sun Devils with 23 points while Basheer Jihad added 21 and Adam Miller scored 15.
The game was close early on until Arizona State ended the first half on a 14-4, erasing a 26-24 NU lead with 4:20 to play in the first half to build a 38-30 lead going into halftime. ASU led by 11 early in the second half and led 49-39 with 15:12 remaining after a layup by Amier Ali. But Nebraska climbed back into the game, tying the game at 58 after a three-pointer by Connor Essegian with 8:49 to play in regulation. A pullup jumper by Essegian with 7:02 to play gave the Huskers a 60-59 lead, their first lead of the second half. A layup by Essegian off a steal from Sam Hoiberg sparked a 10-0 run that built a 71-61 lead with three minutes to go. The lead grew to as large as 12 and Nebraska was able to hang on to win.
The victory snaps a five-game losing streak for the Huskers and is Nebraska’s first win since a 68-64 triumph at Northwestern on Feb. 16. The win also extends NU’s season and sends the Huskers into the round of eight in the first-ever Crown College Basketball Tournament. Nebraska will take on the winner of Georgetown vs. Washington State Wednesday night at 8:30. Pregame coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. on KLIN.