Nebraska overcame a slow start to briefly lead in the second half against Saint Mary’s but ultimately fell, 77-74, Sunday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Huskers suffered their first loss of the year after starting the season with three straight victories.
Brice Williams did his best to keep the Huskers in it, scoring a Nebraska career high 28 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field and 11-of-11 from the free throw line. But the Gaels started the game on an 8-0 run and built a 23-9 advantage six and a half minutes into the game. The Huskers sliced the deficit in half with a 7-0 run, and continued to chip away the rest of the first half. Saint Mary’s lead shrunk to 46-43 at half.
Nebraska took the lead early in the second half before runs of 9-0 and 13-3 gave the Gaels a 10-point lead with 4:13 to go. The Huskers mounted an 11-2 run, driven by Williams, who scored six of NU’s 11 points. Nebraska had the ball with 5.4 seconds to go with a chance to tie the game, but Williams’ contested three-pointer fell short and the Gaels hung on.
Nebraska now prepares to take on No. 14 Creighton in Omaha Friday at 7 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. on KLIN.