"“This was a great test for us,” Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg said."
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Huskers looked sharp early and held on late, as Nebraska captured a 90‑89 exhibition victory over the preseason top‑10 Cougars in a game that delivered intensity, runs and late‑game drama.
Mast returned to action with a flourish, burying 7 of 8 three‑point attempts and pouring in 31 points to shove Nebraska ahead in the opening minutes and never let the lead slip entirely. He helped spark a 17‑4 blitz early in the second half that turned a tie game into a comfortable margin.
Meanwhile, BYU seemed to have the momentum in the final minutes. Freshman forward AJ Dybantsa poured in 30 points, including 19 in the first half, and the Cougars clawed back from a double‑digit deficit to pull within one point with seconds to play. But when it mattered, the Huskers’ defense rose up, and a guarded three‑point attempt from BYU at the buzzer missed its mark.
“This was a great test for us,” Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We saw toughness, we saw execution under pressure. And we showed the ability to hold on when the finish got tight.”
In the final minute, Nebraska hit two clutch free throws and secured a rebound on the final BYU trip down the floor to preserve the victory. For BYU, the performance was encouraging in spots, but the late stop they couldn’t get will linger as something to improve.
Though the game was an exhibition and won’t count toward either team’s regular season record, it served as a valuable barometer. The Huskers showed the poise and shooting to scare ranked teams, while the Cougars revealed that even with top‑tier talent, no opponent will be handed anything this season.
Nebraska now turns toward the regular season riding momentum earned at home. BYU heads back to the drawing board, knowing the win or loss doesn’t count - but the lessons will.
Key Stat
Mast scored 31 points and hit 7 of 8 three‑point attempts.
Final Score
Nebraska 90, BYU 89
