Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Mar 31, 2025 11:07 pm

Brice Williams scores 30, lifts Nebraska over Arizona State

Nebraska, hoiberg

Brice Williams scored a game-high 30 points and Connor Essegian posted all 17 of his points in the final 11 minutes as Nebraska rallied to earn an 86-78 victory over Arizona State during College Basketball Crown first-round play Monday night in Las Vegas.

Juwan Gary added 18 points for Nebraska (18-14), which snapped a five-game losing streak and claimed its first victory since Feb. 16 at Northwestern.

After turning an 11-point second-half deficit into a 12-point lead with 1:21 to go, the Huskers advanced to Wednesday’s second quarterfinal versus the winner of Monday’s late game between Georgetown (17-15) and Washington State (19-14).

Alston Mason produced 23 points and Basheer Jihad added 21 and seven rebounds for Arizona State (13-20), which finished the season losing six in a row and 11 of its final 13.

Nebraska played without senior point guard Rollie Worster (7.0 points per game, 2.6 assists), who was shut down with a foot injury. Arizona State didn’t have freshman sixth man Joson Sanon (11.9 ppg), who has already transferred to St. John’s.

Both teams enjoyed an offensive flurry early on, but three weeks of rust started to show with multiple travels and missed defensive assignments.

Nonetheless, the Sun Devils and Huskers traded the lead 12 times in the first half before Arizona State put on a 14-4 run to seize a 38-30 halftime lead.

Arizona State extended its lead to 43-32 in the second half on Adam Miller’s layup with 18:34 to go, but everything changed with 12 minutes to go. That’s when Sun Devils big man Shawn Phillips Jr., who had six points and six rebounds while protecting the rim, was charged with his fourth foul.

Arizona State led 51-45 at that point, but the margin evaporated within three minutes. Essegian cashed a 3-pointer, a fast-break layup and another 3-pointer with 8:48 left to pull Nebraska into a 58-58 knot. When Essegian swished a 15-foot pullup from the baseline with 7:02 to go, the Huskers claimed a 60-59 lead — their first since it was 26-24.

Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley returned Phillips to the floor at that juncture, but Essegian promptly drove and drew Phillips’ fifth foul.

The Sun Devils’ Trevor Best forged a 61-61 tie with a pullup jumper, but Nebraska’s Williams and Gary combined to score the game’s next seven points. Sam Hoiberg rattled home a 3-pointer to push the margin to 71-61 with 3:30 to play.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

Jimmy Butler
Apr 25, 2025 9:08 pm

Jimmy Butler’s Game 3 status uncertain as Warriors prepare to host Rockets

The Golden State Warriors got some encouraging news on Jimmy Butler from someone who should know — Stephen Curry — as their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Houston…

kawhi leonard
Apr 25, 2025 8:34 pm

Clippers hope to replicate blowout of Nuggets in Game 4

After two highly competitive games to open their first-round series, the Los Angeles Clippers delivered a staggering blow to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3. But Thursday’s 117-83 trouncing only…

ja morant
Apr 25, 2025 6:49 pm

Grizzlies star PG Ja Morant (hip) doubtful for Game 4 vs. OKC

Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant is listed as doubtful for Game 4 of the first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Morant sustained a contusion on…

More Basketball News

Jimmy Butler
Apr 25, 2025 9:08 pm

Jimmy Butler’s Game 3 status uncertain as Warriors prepare to host Rockets

The Golden State Warriors got some encouraging news on Jimmy Butler from someone who should know — Stephen Curry — as their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Houston…

kawhi leonard
Apr 25, 2025 8:34 pm

Clippers hope to replicate blowout of Nuggets in Game 4

ja morant
Apr 25, 2025 6:49 pm

Grizzlies star PG Ja Morant (hip) doubtful for Game 4 vs. OKC

Terrance Arceneaux
Apr 25, 2025 4:44 pm

Ex-Houston G Terrance Arceneaux chooses NC State

Shai Gilgeous
Apr 25, 2025 2:07 pm

Trust, faith have Thunder poised for sweep vs. Grizzlies

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds