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Nebraska Men's Basketball Escapes Bethune-Cookman, 63-58

Nebraska men's basketball had to hold on late to top Bethune-Cookman and improve to 2-0.

Kaleb Henry

Nov 9, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) drives against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nov 9, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) drives against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
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A dismal offensive performance had Nebraska men's basketball in a barn burner Saturday night.

After five consecutive games of at least 80 points going back to last season, NU only got to 63 points. That number was enough, though, as the Huskers held on to beat the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 63-58.

The Huskers are now 2-0 on the year while the Wildcats fall to 0-2.

Nebraska's offense was pitiful all night. In the first half, the Big Red shot 25.8%, making just 1-of-10 3s. NU also had 11 turnovers.

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) passes the ball against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
Nov 9, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Sam Hoiberg (1) passes the ball against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Coming out of halftime, Brice Williams promptly made a pair of 3s to start a 17-6 run, streching Nebraska's lead to 16 points. But Bethune-Cookman answered with an 8-0 run and kept the game close down the stretch.

The Wildcats got a pair of 3s and a layup in the final 90 seconds, twice cutting the deficit to a single possession. The Huskers, however, were 6-for-7 at the free throw line in the final minute to seal the victory.

Nebraska finished the night shooting 34.5%, including 4-of-22 from 3. Bethune-Cookman shot 35.5%, making 9-of-26 3s.

The Huskers tallied 18 turnovers on the night, but utsed 11 steals to force the Wildcats into 22 turnovers.

Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) controls the ball against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
Nov 9, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) controls the ball against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Juwan Gary scored a game-high 11 points. He also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Williams was next in scoring with 10 points.

Nebraska stays home Wednesday to host Fairleigh Dickinson. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CST with the game to be streamed on B1G+.

Box score

Nebraska Athletics Notes

  • Nebraska has now won 23 straight games when holding an opponent under 70 points, including 29-2 over the last two-plus seasons. The time Nebraska lost a game when holding an opponent under 70 points was against Purdue in 2022.
  • Nebraska forced 22 turnovers, the most since forcing 22 turnovers at Michigan State on Feb. 6, 2021. It ties for the second-highest number of opponent turners in Fred Hoiberg’s five-plus seasons at Nebraska.
  • Nebraska has forced 20+ turnovers in both games this season.
  • Nebraska finished with 11 steals, including a career-high five from Juwan Gary. Gary's previous high in steals was four at Kansas State last season. NU's 11 steals were its highest total since recording 15 against Indiana on Jan. 3, 2024. Gary also led NU with 11 points.
  • Brice Williams finished with 10 points, snapping a streak of four straight 20-point games dating back to last season.

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Kaleb Henry
KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

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