Nebraska showcased a commanding performance against Southern California, securing an 82-67 victory at the Galen Center. The Cornhuskers improved their Big Ten record to 14-4 with this win, marking a school record for conference wins this season.
Pryce Sandfort led Nebraska’s charge by scoring 32 points, just one shy of his career high. He drained five three-pointers, bringing him within five of Shawn Respert’s Big Ten single-season record of 80 made threes.
Nebraska built a narrow 20-18 lead early, but USC responded with an 18-11 run to take a 36-31 advantage at halftime. Key contributors to that run included Jaden Brownell and Chad Baker-Mazara, who hit consecutive three-pointers.
In the second half, Nebraska rallied strongly with a decisive 15-0 run that shifted momentum. During this stretch, Sandfort and Braden Frager each contributed seven points, helping extend the lead to 66-46.
Frager added 17 points and tied his career high with eight rebounds, providing crucial support alongside Sandfort. The Huskers’ offensive balance and defensive intensity frustrated USC’s efforts down the stretch.
USC struggled offensively after Baker-Mazara exited early in the second half due to a hard fall at the baseline. Before leaving, he scored 14 points and was one of three Trojans in double figures alongside Alijah Arenas and Kam Woods.
Arenas was perfect from the free-throw line, making all six attempts, while Woods contributed 12 points. Despite their efforts, USC fell to 7-11 in the conference and suffered their fifth consecutive loss.
Nebraska’s victory marked their third straight win overall and improved their road record in the Big Ten to 7-2, with one away game remaining this season. The team started the year undefeated at 20-0 but has gone 5-4 in recent games.
Looking ahead, Nebraska prepares to face UCLA, closing out the team’s first California trip since 2016. USC will travel to Washington for their final regular-season road game.
This matchup underscored Nebraska’s resilience and depth, as they overcame a halftime deficit to firmly control the second half. Their balanced scoring and defensive effort were key factors in securing the win and strengthening their case for postseason play.
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