Numbers to Know
.311 - Nebraska held Rider to 30.4 percent shooting on Monday night and now leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (.311). Dating back to last year, NU has held four of its last five opponents under 40 percent shooting.
50 - Nebraska held Rider to 50 points, which matches the lowest total a Husker team has given up under Fred Hoiberg. NU also held Iowa to 50 points on Dec. 29, 2022. Rider entered Monday's game averaging 89.0 points per game.
30 - Nebraska's 30 3-pointers are the most after three games since the 2018-19 team had 31 in thieir first three contests. The Huskers are one of four Big Ten teams currently averaging at least 10 3-pointers per game.
Huskers Bid for 4-0 Start on Wednesday vs. Stony Brook
The Nebraska men's basketball team looks to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2018 on Wednesday as the Huskers play host to Stony Brook in the second game of the Cornhusker Classic at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff between the Huskers and Seawolves is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are available for the matchup by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets, calling 800-8-BIGRED during business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or at PBA beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Cornhusker Classic is a four-team event with Nebraska, Rider, Stony Brook and Duquesne that takes place between Nov. 13-22. All four teams will play each other during that time frame.
Nebraska (3-0) used a strong performance on the defensive end to subdue Rider's upset bid in a 64-50 win on Monday night. The Huskers held the Broncs to 30.4 percent shooting, including 23.1 percent in the second half, and used a 47-34 advantage on the glass to take control in the final 10 minutes. The Huskers used a 17-0 spurt, holding the Broncs scoreless for over nine minutes to pull away. C.J. Wilcher led three Huskers in double figures with 13 points and five rebounds, while Rienk Mast posted his second double-double of the year with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Mast comes into Wednesday's contest second in the Big Ten in rebounding (11.7 rpg), a big reason the Huskers lead the Big Ten in rebounding margin at +12.1 per contest.
Stony Brook (1-2) comes off an 85-63 loss to Duquesne on Monday. In that game, Aaron Clark had a game-high 22 points and four assists, but the Seawolves shot just 33 percent in the loss.
Looking at Stony Brook
Stony Brook comes into Wednesday’s game with a 1-2 mark after an 85-63 loss at Duquesne on Monday night. In that game, Aaron Clarke had a team-high 22 points, including five 3-pointers, while Tyler Stephenson-Moore added 14 points, including four 3-pointers. The pair combined for nine of Stony Brook’s 12 3-pointers, but the Seawolves shot just 33 percent from the floor, including 24 percent in the first half.
Stony Brook is in its second season in the Coastal Athletic Association and went 11-22 in its first season in the league. The Seawolves, who return a pair of starters and 10 letterwinners, were picked ninth in the Coastal Athletic Association preseason poll. They have retooled their roster with three transfers in their starting lineup and sixth-year senior Aaron Clarke returned after playing just three games last year before suffering a season-ending injury. The Seawolves have been challenged early, falling 90-74 to St. John’s in the season opener before Monday’s loss to Duquesne. Stephenson-Moore was a preseason All-CAA pick as he averaged 14.3 points per game last season.
Geno Ford is in his fifth season in charge of the Stony Brook program after serving as an assistant coach for three seasons under Jeff Boals. Ford had previously served as the head coach at Kent State (2008-11), Bradley (2011-15), Muskingum (2005-07) and Shawnee State (2001-02).
Wednesday’s meeting is the first matchup between the Huskers and Stony Brook. NU is 8-1 all-time against CAA teams but has not met a CAA opponent since 2010.
Last Time Out: Huskers Grind out 64-50 Win over Rider
The Nebraska men’s basketball team used a 17-0 second-half spurt to avert Rider’s upset bid in NU’s 64-50 win at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Nov. 13.
Rider used an 8-0 run to trim Nebraska’s lead to 47-46 after DJ Dudley’s basket with 10:41 remaining, but could get no closer as the Huskers used timely shooting and a strong defensive effort to earn the win. Keisei Tominaga ignited the rally with consecutive 3-pointers to give NU a 53-46 lead and force a Bronc timeout. From there, it was all Huskers, as Nebraska held the visitors scoreless for over nine minutes and forced 12 consecutive missed shots.
Josiah Allick and Rienk Mast combined for nine straight Husker points before Jarron Coleman’s basket with 1:44 left gave NU a commanding 64-46 advantage. Mast posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while Allick added 10 points and six boards.
Nebraska held Rider to just 30.4 percent shooting, including 6-of-25 from 3-point range. The Broncs shot just 23.1 percent in the second half.
C.J. Wilcher led the Huskers (3-0) with 13 points, including a trio of first-half three-pointers, while Tominaga had nine points in 22 minutes in his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury on Oct. 29. Brice Williams added seven points and eight boards, as Nebraska enjoyed a 47-34 advantage on the glass.
Worth Noting
- Nebraska has been stout on the defensive end during the early portion of the season. The Huskers lead the Big Ten in points per game (52.0), field goal percentage defense (.311) and rebounding margin (+12.3). NU is also 42nd nationally in defensive efficiency according to KenPom following Monday's games.
- Rienk Mast now has 22 career double-doubles entering Wednesday's game with Stony Brook. The 6-foot-10 forward is 22nd nationally among all active players and trails only Zach Edey (41) among current Big Ten players. Mast's two double-doubles tie for the national lead.
- If Mast can record a double-double on Tuesday, he will be the first Husker with three straight double-doubles since Isaiah Roby from Feb. 10-18, 2018. Roby is the only Husker to post three straight double-doubles in the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present).
- Nebraska's bench has provided a spark early on. The Huskers bench has chipped in an average of 27.6 points per game in the first three contests. Sam Hoiberg led NU with 15 points in the opener, while C.J. Wilcher paced the Big Red with 13 points in Monday's win over Rider. In addition, Eli Rice had 16 off the bench against Florida A&M, but was not the Huskers' leading scorer that game (Mast, 20).
- Nebraska has had double-figure scoring runs in each of its first three games (10-0 vs. Lindenwood; 12-0 vs. FAMU; 17-0 vs. Rider).
- Nebraska is 16-4 under Hoiberg when scoring at least 80 points including 11-1 over the last three seasons. The only loss was a 104-100 quadruple overtime game at North Carolina State in 2021. NU has won its last nine games when reaching the 80-point plateau.
Mast's Massive Night
Rienk Mast put together a strong performance in Nebraska's win against Florida A&M on Nov. 9. The 6-foot-10 forward had game highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds for his first double-double as a Husker.
- He became the first Husker in the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present) to have a game with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, and the first Husker to do so since All-Big 12 performer Aleks Maric in 2008.
- Since 1990, only six Huskers have had games with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds. That list includes Aleks Maric, Kimani Ffriend, Venson Hamilton, Mikki Moore and Eric Piatkowski.
- Mast’s 16 rebounds were the most by a Husker since Yvan Ouedraogo had 19 rebounds against Northwestern on March 1, 2020, and the second-highest rebound total in Hoiberg’s four-plus seasons at Nebraska.
- Mast leads NU in scoring (15.0 ppg, 19th) and rebounding (11.7 rpg, 2nd) and is second in assists (2.3 apg).
Finding Balance
Nebraska relied on its depth and balance early in the season. While the Huskers have three players averaging double figures, four others are at between 7.0 and 9.0 ppg after three games.
- • Nebraska has had six different players reach double figures in the first three contests and have had a different leading scorer in each of the first three games.
- • No Husker averages more than 27 minutes, while mine players are averaging at least double figures in minutes.
- • NU has gotten at least one double-figure effort from its bench in each of the first three contests.
- • The Huskers are starting to get more of their lineup back. Keisei Tominaga made his 2023-24 debut and had nine points in 22 minutes. Tominaga led NU in scoring at 13.1 ppg in 2022-23. In addition, Juwan Gary (9.6 ppg) has not played in NU's first three contests.
- • Seven of the 12 players who played in the season opener were making their Husker debut. In fact, C.J. Wilcher was the only player who appeared in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 openers.
Tominaga's Return Provides a Boost
Nebraska regained the services of senior All-Big Ten performer Keisei Tominaga against Rider on Monday after missing NU's first two games with an ankle injury. Tominaga finished with nine points, but provided a spark after Rider closed to within 47-46. Tominaga hit two straight 3-pointers to ignite NU's 17-0 spurt over the next nine minutes.
New Faces, New Roles
Nebraska made a big splash in the transfer portal, adding five players to the roster, and their impact is already being felt during the early portion of the season. The group of Josiah Allick (New Mexico), Jarron Coleman (Bradley), Rienk Mast (Bradley), Ahron Ulis (Iowa) and Brice Williams (Charlotte) combined for more than 4,300 points, 2,100 rebounds and 800 assists entering this year. All but Ulis has played in NU's first three games.
Mast leads the Huskers in both scoring (15.0 ppg) and rebounding (11.7 rpg) as he ranks second in the conference in rebounding. The 6-foot-10 forward has been in double figures in all three contests - the only Husker to do so- including a 20-point, 16-rebound effort against Florida A&M.
Allick has been a force inside, averaging 8.7 points per game on 73 percent shooting and 6.3 rebounds per game. He is second on the team and 18th in the Big Ten in rebounds, and is a big reason why the Huskers lead the conference in rebounding margin. Allick has two double-figure efforts in the first three games, including 11 points and eight boards against Lindenwood.
Williams has started all three contests and is second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and third in rebounding (5.0 rpg) while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. The 6-foot-7 guard has been in double figures twice, including a 15-point effort against Florida A&M and had seven points and eight boards in Monday's win over Rider.
Coleman has come off the bench in all three contests and leads NU with 3.0 assists per game while also adding 4.0 points and 4.0 rebounds. He has nearly a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio while averaging nearly 19 minutes off the bench.
