HONOLULU — Brice Williams made a significant impact in the final moments of the game, contributing 11 points to his total of 25 as Nebraska finished strong with a 6-0 run, securing a 78-66 victory over Oregon State in the championship match of the Diamond Head Classic on Wednesday night.

Nebraska improved its record to 10-2 and celebrated its first tournament victory since the San Juan Shootout in 2000, during which the team won three games by a mere four points. Fred Hoiberg achieved a notable milestone as he became the first coach to secure multiple Diamond Head Classic championships, having previously led Iowa State to the title in 2013.

Following a tie at 51 with 10:20 remaining, Nebraska moved ahead by executing a 10-2 scoring run while Oregon State struggled offensively, failing to score a field goal for over five minutes. The Cornhuskers maintained at least a four-point lead for the remainder of the game.

A pivotal moment came when Berke Buyuktuncel connected on a banked 3-pointer with 1:51 on the clock, increasing Nebraska’s cushion to 72-63. Buyuktuncel ended the game with 16 points, including three 3-pointers, while Juwan Gary contributed 14 points.

For Oregon State, Nate Kingz tallied 19 points, and Damarco Minor added 16 points to the team’s total. Williams played a key role in the first half, scoring 10 points and helping Nebraska to a narrow 34-33 lead at halftime. The Cornhuskers demonstrated strong shooting with a 50% accuracy rate from the field and a commendable 6 of 11 from three-point range during the first half.

This matchup marked the second consecutive year that Nebraska and Oregon State faced off at a neutral venue, as they had previously met in South Dakota last season. Nebraska will return to its home court next Monday to take on Southern, while Oregon State is set to host Portland in their next game.