Nebraska’s Reink Mast shoots over BYU’s Keba Keita. (Courtesy: Sports Illustrated)
Nebraska Upsets No. 8 BYU 90-89 in Thrilling Exhibition Win at Pinnacle Bank Arena
LINCOLN, Neb. — In what may have been billed as a preseason exhibition, Nebraska Basketball treated fans to a regular-season level thriller, edging out No. 8 BYU 90-89 on Saturday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
It was a signature moment for a program looking to turn a corner under head coach Fred Hoiberg — even if the games don’t officially count yet.
Senior forward Rienk Mast, returning from a year-long injury layoff, delivered a standout performance in his first live action since surgery, tallying 31 points and 5 rebounds. After the game, Mast reflected on his long-awaited return.
“Yeah, that’s pretty good,” Mast said with a smile. “I think I had that one bottled up for a while.”
The Cornhuskers got major contributions across the board, but it was Jamarques Lawrence who may have been the engine behind Nebraska’s offensive rhythm. The junior guard posted a well-rounded stat line: 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists with just one turnover. More importantly, he set the tone with his pace and poise against BYU’s high-pressure defense.
“I thought [Jamarques] Lawrence’s pace was phenomenal,” Hoiberg said. “Led us in rebounding with seven, had nine assists and one turnover…but I really thought his pace was the difference.”
The two teams traded runs throughout the second half – led by 30 points from the Cougars’ projected NBA Lottery Pick AJ Dybantsa – but Nebraska’s perimeter scoring proved too much in the end. Three Huskers finished in double figures, and a late stop sealed the win after BYU missed a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds.
While the victory gives Nebraska fans plenty to be excited about heading into the season, Hoiberg was quick to provide perspective.
“This can’t be the highlight of our season,” Hoiberg said. “But it was good to see our guys go out there and compete at a high level for forty minutes.”
With the regular season still a few weeks away, Nebraska now turns its attention to building consistency and chemistry. But for one night, under the lights in Lincoln, the Huskers showed they just might be ready to make some noise this season.