SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — In an intense match on Sunday afternoon, Mikey Lewis sank two crucial free throws with just five seconds on the clock, securing a 77-74 victory for Saint Mary’s over Nebraska in a neutral-site game held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Brice Williams had a chance to tie the game with a last-second three-pointer but missed, sealing the win for the Gaels.

Saint Mary’s took control of the game in the closing minutes, with Lewis hitting a jumper followed by a three-pointer at the 4:13 mark, giving them a commanding lead of 73-63. However, the Cornhuskers weren’t ready to give up. They fought back with four free throws from Williams, a tip-in, and one out of two free throws by Berke Buyuktuncel. A layup from Rollie Worster brought Nebraska within three points at 75-72 with less than a minute remaining. Williams later made two free throws with six seconds left, narrowing the gap to one point.

Lewis was the standout performer for Saint Mary’s (4-0), contributing 23 points along with four rebounds, three assists, and four steals from the bench. Paulius Murauskas added 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Luke Barrett scored 15 points. Mitchell Saxen had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, falling just one point short of reaching the milestone of 1,000 career points at Saint Mary’s. The team posted a field goal percentage of 42.6% by hitting 26 of 61 shots and made 11 out of 23 attempts from three-point range, but struggled at the charity stripe, converting only 14 of 25 free-throw attempts.

On the other hand, Nebraska (3-1) had a successful day at the free-throw line, converting 25 of 29 tries as they made their push for a comeback. Williams was exceptional, hitting all 11 of his free-throw attempts and achieving a season-high of 28 points. Buyuktuncel supported him with 15 points, shooting 5 of 6 from the line, and contributed three steals and three blocked shots. Both Worster and Andrew Morgan chipped in with 10 points each for Nebraska.

Looking ahead, the Gaels will be back on their home court for two upcoming games, starting with Stanislaus State on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Nebraska is set to face in-state rival Creighton in Omaha this coming Friday.