HONOLULU — In an impressive display of teamwork and skill, Andrew Morgan recorded a double-double with 12 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, while Connor Essegian contributed 15 points, including five three-pointers, leading Nebraska to a 66-49 victory over Murray State on Sunday night at the Diamond Head Classic.

With this win, Nebraska improved its record to 8-2, and they are set to face Hawaii in the next round on Monday. Meanwhile, Murray State will be looking to bounce back as they prepare to take on Charlotte in the consolation bracket.

Murray State struggled significantly at the start of the game, missing their first eight shots and managing only 1 of 16 shooting from the field early on. The scoring began when Juwan Gary made a jumper just under two minutes into the first half, setting the stage for Nebraska to take control of the game from that moment on.

Gary, a senior standing 6-foot-6, ignited a scoring run for the Cornhuskers with a traditional three-point play around four minutes into the game. This sequence fueled a dominant 16-0 run, allowing Nebraska to build a commanding 22-4 lead when Brice Williams converted a layup off a steal with just over nine minutes remaining in the half.

Kylen Milton tried to shift momentum for Murray State by nailing two consecutive three-pointers and drawing a foul on the second, leading to a successful additional free throw that reduced the deficit to 11 points. However, Essegian quickly responded with two three-pointers within a short span, helping Nebraska close the first half with a decisive 34-14 lead after scoring 12 of the last 15 points.

Milton was the standout performer for Murray State, finishing the game with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, which included an impressive dunk along the baseline in the second half. Overall, the rest of Murray State’s squad struggled offensively, shooting only 25% (10 of 40) from the field. Rollie Worster also added 11 points for Nebraska, contributing to the team’s solid overall performance.