LINCOLN, Neb. — In a noteworthy matchup on Saturday, Brice Williams contributed 16 points and Andrew Morgan came off the bench to add 12 as Nebraska triumphed over the No. 15 ranked UCLA with a score of 66-58.
The victory marked the Cornhuskers’ 20th consecutive win at home, allowing them to tie the school record.
The game’s momentum shifted in favor of the Huskers halfway through the second half, as they fended off the Bruins’ attempts to narrow the gap.
UCLA managed to close the score to 61-58 with under 30 seconds remaining, but Nebraska’s Sam Hoiberg successfully sunk two free throws, while Juwan Gary made a crucial block on Dylan Andrews’ layup to secure the victory.
For UCLA, Tyler Bilodeau was the leading scorer with 15 points, while Lazar Stefanovic added 10. Sebastian Mack made his first start of the season, stepping in for the injured Eric Dailey Jr., and scored nine points.
The Bruins struggled significantly, particularly with their outside shooting, hitting only 14.3% of their 3-point attempts (4 of 28), their poorest performance from long range since a previous loss to Ohio State where they managed just 1 for 10.
In terms of key observations, this game saw UCLA enduring its least productive offensive performance of the season during their first Big Ten contest that was not held on the West Coast.
Conversely, Nebraska celebrated its second victory against a ranked opponent this season, putting them in a good position to potentially break into the AP Top 25 for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Morgan showcased his skills with a three-point play, followed by a steal at halfcourt and a driving reverse layup that secured the lead for Nebraska with 14:45 remaining in the game.
Statistically, UCLA faced challenges in the second half, managing to convert only two field goals over an eight-minute stretch, during which Nebraska overcame a one-point deficit to establish a double-digit advantage.
Looking ahead, UCLA is set to host Michigan on Tuesday, while Nebraska will travel to face Iowa on the same day.
