Strong Second Half Propels Huskers Past Lakers

Lincoln - The Nebraska men’s basketball team used a 30-6 run over a 10-minute span, as the Huskers cruised to a 73-53 win over Grand Valley State at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Nebraska broke open a 28-all deadlock late in the first half by scoring seven of the last nine points of the half before clamping down on the defensive end. The Huskers forced Grand Valley State into missing 14 of its first 15 shots from the floor in the first nine minutes of the half as Nebraska built a 58-34 lead after a Gavin Griffiths’ 3-pointer. 

Griffiths led Nebraska with 14 points, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, while Brice Williams added 13 markers, as Nebraska shot 50 percent from the field and turned 19 GVSU turnovers into 21 points.  Griffiths had 11 of his 14 points in the spurt to help break the game open. 

Nebraska, which never trailed, had 13 steals, including three from Rollie Worster and two apiece from Juwan Gary and Berke Büyüktuncel, who led Nebraska with 12 rebounds in 19 minutes of work.

Nebraska got off to a great start and closed the half on 7-2 run over the final two minutes of the half to take a 35-30 lead into the locker room. NU shot 50 percent from the floor and turned eight Grand Valley State turnovers into 13 first-half points. 

The Huskers got off to a quick start, jumping out to an 11-3 lead, as Juwan Gary had five points and a pair of assists in the spurt to force an early timeout. Grand Valley State battled back and pulled even at 28 after a Shamus Thompson free throw with 2:05 left in the half. 

Griffiths then broke the deadlock with a 3-pointer before two free throws from William Dunn made it a one-point game. NU then got baskets from Ahron Ulis and Williams to close the half with a five-point lead. Nebraska opened the second half with a 9-2 run as Williams’ 3-pointer and two baskets from Worster gave NU a 12-point lead and the Huskers cruised from there.  

Mason Docks led Grand Valley State with seven points, as Grand Valley State shot 28 percent, including 17 percent in the final 20 minutes. 

The Huskers open the 2024-25 season next Monday, Nov. 4, against UT Rio Grande Valley, Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets.