Nebraska forward Rienk Mast (51) looks to distribute the ball against Florida International. (Courtesy: Nebraska Athletics)
LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Cornhuskers secured a commanding 96-66 victory over the Florida International Panthers, with senior forward Rienk Mast delivering a historic performance, becoming only the third player in program history to achieve a triple-double.
Mast’s stat line was exceptional, and his 10+ assists were a testament to the game plan. “I kind of knew coming into the game that it was going to be a passing game for me,” Mast commented. “I kind of thought, with how much they get up to the ball, that I was going to the three guys that shoot threes. I knew I was going to have a good passing game.”
Junior forward Pryce Sandfort was a primary beneficiary of Mast’s distribution and the team’s emphasis on simple, quick passes, having a breakout game of his own. Head Coach Fred Hoiberg expressed confidence in Sandfort’s potential. “It was just a matter of time before he had one like this,” Hoiberg stated.
The coach noted that the team focused on exploiting FIU’s aggressive defense. “The big message to our team was make simple plays, don’t over penetrate,” Hoiberg explained. “Once we calmed down and took one dribble, made the pass, hit the single, Pryce benefited from it… Our guys did a great job finding him.” Mast echoed this sentiment, adding, “We know we got so many shooters, so we shot it. We shot it insanely for three today.”
In addition to the standout performances, Coach Hoiberg highlighted the contributions of the rotation, particularly the play of forward Jared Garcia and forward Braden Frager.
Hoiberg pointed to Garcia’s impact, especially in the second half. “Jared, I thought, gave us really good minutes,” Hoiberg said. “I gave him a lot of credit in the post game locker room, getting six defensive rebounds for us. I thought he was a key part of that run that we made in the second half.”
The coach noted the value of getting depth players extended time on the court, especially with a quick turnaround. “It’s great to get those guys valuable minutes and experience,” Hoiberg concluded. “It’s nice to get our guys a little bit of extended rest.”
The Cornhuskers’ dominant win sets them up well as they prepare for their next contest Tuesday, November 11th against Maryland-Eastern Shore.