It was a total team effort for Nebraska men’s basketball in its 79-69 semifinal win over Boise State in the College Basketball Crown Saturday afternoon.
Nebraska overcame a bit of a slow start in the game to secure the win. After making their first two field goals, the Huskers made just three of their next 15 baskets and went five-plus minutes without a field goal. At the 7:07 mark of the first half, the Huskers trailed by seven (26-19).
That is when the Huskers’ defensive effort and energy picked up. They turned their defense into offense and used a balanced scoring attack to go on a 15-1 run in a little over four minutes to build a 39-33 lead at the half. The run extended into the second half and the Huskers outscored the Broncos 20-7 to take an 11-point lead with just over two minutes left in the half.
“Our best offense is our defense,” senior Juwan Gary said. “Once we get the ball off the rim and get a stop or two, we get to playing in a flow. Everybody who was on the court scored the basketball. So, if we keep moving and having great pace and great cuts, nobody in the country can stop us. That’s what we did today. That was one of the best offensive games we’ve had for a long, long time.”
Gary was extremely efficient in the win. He had a team-high 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting and didn’t miss on his four 3-point shot attempts, which tied a career high (against Minnesota on Feb. 24, 2024). It was Gary’s ninth 20-point game of the season. In the last six games, he is averaging 20.8 points per game.
Gary needs 24 points Sunday in the championship game against UCF to become the 33rd player to reach 1,000 points in a Husker uniform.
It wasn’t just Gary’s scoring but his effort on both ends of the floor. He finished with a game-highs in rebounds (nine) and blocked shots (three).
Rebounding, specifically keeping Boise off the offensive glass, was a key prior to the game. The Broncos’ 32.9 offensive rebounding percentage was 87th-best in the nation according to KenPom, and they only gave up a 22.2% offensive rebounding rate to their opponents, which was good for second-best in the country.
Gary and Brice Williams have been tremendous in the three games of the tournament. Williams cooled off by his standards, scoring only 14 points, but was 4-of-8 from the field and had a team-high six assists with five rebounds.
The Huskers won the most important key, out-rebounding the Broncos 38-31, and were even, 11-11, on the offensive glass.
It is cliché to say a total team game in basketball sometimes, but that was exactly what the win was for the Huskers.
“Guys played very unselfishly,” Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “This was the classic game of everyone who stepped on the floor made an impact.”
Nebraska got 26 points from its bench, including eight apiece from Connor Essegian and Ahron Ulis. For Ulis, it was his highest scoring effort since his season-high 10 points against North Florida on Dec. 1. Ulis also tied a season high with five rebounds.
All five of Braxton Meah’s minutes came late in the first half before leaving with a heel injury late. Meah’s two dunks and defensive effort were key for the Huskers and sparked a 9-0 spurt in the middle of the 15-1 run.
Nebraska outscored the Broncos 26-11 from the non-starters.
Ulis cam into the game making just four of his 24 3-point attempts on the season. He went 2-for-3 from deep against the Broncos, and his back-to-back free throws were just his eighth and ninth makes on 20 attempts.
“It feels great going out there and doing whatever I need to do to help my teammates get the win in the end,” Ulis said. “I’m just glad that all my teammates are there supporting me. The key is just staying ready and being ready whenever your name is called.”
The win was number 20 on the season for the Huskers, just the third time in school history they have posted consecutive 20-win seasons. The most recent years were 1997-98 and 1998-99. Prior to that, Nebraska had back-to-back 20 win seasons in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Nebraska will face UCF on Sunday at 4:30 CT in the Basketball Crown Championship televised on FOX.
