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Nebrasketball Upsets No. 15 UCLA, 66-58

The Huskers welcome another ranked opponent to Pinnacle Bank Arena and send them home with a loss.

Kaleb Henry

Jan 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) shoots the ball against UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Jan 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) shoots the ball against UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
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Pinnacle Bank Arena has become a place for Big Ten Conference opponents to perish.

Nebraska men's basketball upset No. 15 UCLA Saturday afternoon, 66-58. NU improves to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, while the Bruins fall to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the league.

The Huskers have not lost at home to a Big Ten opponent since Feb. 28 of 2023, a win streak now of 12 games.

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) shoots the ball against UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (1) and center Aday Mara
Jan 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) shoots the ball against UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (1) and center Aday Mara (15) during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

This was a game of runs from the beginning, with UCLA jumping out to a 7-0 lead. Nebraska answered with a 15-0 run before giving up a 15-0 run. The Huskers then reset everything with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 22-all. The score was 24-24 at the half.

Out of the break, the teams exchanged baskets for the first four minutes, but Andrew Morgan got a bucket and then stole the ball and got an and-1 on the other end, putting Nebraska up for good.

Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Connor Essegian (0) looks to pass against UCLA Bruins guard Sebastian Mack (12) during the first h
Jan 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Connor Essegian (0) looks to pass against UCLA Bruins guard Sebastian Mack (12) during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska shot 32.7% for the game, including 7-of-25 on 3s. The Huskers went 25-of-29 at the free throw line. UCLA shot 38.6% overall, making 4-of-28 3s and 10-of-13 free throws.

Brice Williams led all scorers with 16 points. The Husker senior made just 2-of-12 shot attempts but went 11-of-12 at the line

Morgan (12), Rollie Worster (11), and Juwan Gary (10) also scored in doube figures.

Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) shoots a three-point basket against UCLA Bruins guard Dominick Harris (8)
Jan 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) shoots a three-point basket against UCLA Bruins guard Dominick Harris (8) during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska is on the road for the next two games, heading to Iowa Jan. 7 and Purdue Jan. 12.

Box score | Gallery

Nebraska Athletics Notes

  • Nebraska won its 20th straight home game today, matching the program record. It is the third time NU has won 20 consecutive home game, most recently from Dec. 20, 2017, to Jan. 10, 2019. Nebraska is now 8-0 at home this season.
  • The win over UCLA was NU’s first since Dec. 16, 1955, a 71-65 win at the NU Coliseum. That Husker team was coached by Jerry Bush, the grandfather of Fred Hoiberg. The win also snapped a four-game losing streak to UCLA.
  • The Huskers are 2-0 against ranked teams this year, and NU is 4-2 in its last six games dating back to the win over No. 1 Purdue on Jan. 9, 2024.
  • Nebraska held UCLA to 58 points, the Bruins’ second-lowest total of the season. NU has now held seven of 14 opponents under 50 points. NU held UCLA to .841 PPP, and is now 10-0 when holding foes to under 1.00 PPPP
  • Nebraska went 25-of-29 from the foul line, including 21-of-25 in the second half. The 25 free throws tied a season high (also Saint Mary’s and UTRGV). 
  • Rollie Worster surpassed 1,000 career points today with his 3-pointer with 1:50 left in the first half. 
  • Nebraska’s 15-0 run in the first half tied for the largest run of the season, 12/1/24 vs. North Florida
  • The win over UCLA was the 30th career ranked win for Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg.  
  • UCLA entered the game seventh nationally in turnover margin (+6.7) but finished -2 today against Nebraska. Nebraska also outscored UCLA 17-13 on points on turnovers.
  • Four Huskers scored in double digits, led by Brice Williams with 16. Today marked his 13th game this season with over 10 points and his fourth straight. 
  • Sam Hoiberg tallied three steals, which ties for his second-most this season, as the Huskers forced 13 turnovers. 
  • Andrew Morgan finished with 12 points, the 15th double figure game from a Husker reserve this season. It is the eighth time Morgan has been in double figures.
  • Berke Büyüktuncel tied his career high with nine rebounds, the fifth time this season he grabbed nine rebounds. As a team, NU out-rebounded UCLA 39-34 and has been out-rebounded once in 14 games.

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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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