The No. 8 Nebraska men’s basketball team made easy work of Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, cruising to a 77-58 victory to remain undefeated on the season. The win was the Cornhuskers’ 22nd straight, dating back to last season, and continues the best start in school history at 18-0, including 7-0 in the Big Ten.
Pryce Sandfort paced Nebraska’s effort with 22 points on seven-for-13 shooting, including five three-pointers. Braden Frager added 20 points on eight-for-14 shooting. Sam Hoiberg added 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. The Wildcats (8-10, 0-7 Big Ten) were led by Nick Martinelli’s 22 points on nine-for-20 shooting. He also notched a double-double with 10 rebounds. Tre Singleton contributed 14 on six-for-13 shooting.
The Huskers thoroughly outplayed Northwestern, outshooting them (51 percent to 43 percent) and outshooting them from distance (11-for-26, 42 percent to five-for-14, 36 percent). The Wildcats came into the game the Big Ten’s leader in fewest turnovers per game (8.4), but turned it over 11 times compared to five giveaways by Nebraska.
An early 8-0 run gave Nebraska a 10-5 lead four minutes into the game. The game was close from there, with neither team holding a lead larger than five until a 5-0 run on a second-chance layup by Frager and a three-pointer by Lawrence pushed the Huskers’ lead to 34-27 with 1:18 to go in the half. Tre Singleton drained two free throws to cut Nebraska’s advantage to 34-29, which was the halftime score.
After allowing a three-pointer, the Huskers went on a 7-0 run to build a 41-32 lead with 17:44 to go. A Sandfort three-pointer pushed Nebraska’s lead to 10 for the first time in the game, 46-36, with 15:45 remaining. Northwestern cut the Huskers’ lead to 46-41, but Nebraska went on a 6-0 run with two Hoiberg free throws and two Sandfort baskets to build their largest lead of the game, 52-41, with 11:43 to play.
Max Green hit a three for the Wildcats to cut the lead to eight, but the Huskers responded with an 11-0 run punctuated by a Sandfort three-pointer to open a 63-44 advantage with 7:33 to play and all but clinch the win. The 17-3 run over roughly eight minutes by Nebraska buried Northwestern.
The Huskers, already matching their highest ranking in school history at No. 8, are almost certain to rise higher in next week’s Associated Press poll. Iowa State, which entered this week undefeated and No. 2 in the nation, lost earlier in the week at Kansas, then lost at Cincinnati Saturday, 79-70, meaning Nebraska will almost certainly jump the Cyclones in the national rankings when the new poll comes out Monday.
Nebraska returns to action Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena against Washington. Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m., with tipoff at 8 p.m. on KLIN.