National Basketball Association
Nebraska 103, North Florida 72
When: 4:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 1, 2024
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska
Officials:
# Verne Harris, # Keith Kimble, # Jason Phillips
Attendance:
15359
By Field Level Media
Connor Essegian scored 22 points and Nebraska had a second straight big offensive performance in a 103-72 home win over North Florida in a nonconference game on Sunday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.
Essegian, who was back in the starting lineup after dropping a career-high 29 last time out, was 8 of 10 from the field and 6 of 8 from 3-point range. He fueled a 45.8 percent performance from outside for the Cornhuskers, who shot 58 percent overall.
Nebraska (6-1) reached the century mark for the first time since December 2021 in a four-overtime loss to NC State. The 103 points were the Cornhuskers' most since December 2020 and most against a Division I opponent since 2018.
Essegian was in the starting lineup in place of leading rebounder Berke Buyuktuncel, who sat out with a hip injury. Nebraska still won the rebounding battle 38-37 as Andrew Morgan had nine boards along with 13 points, while Juwan Gary scored 18 and Brice Williams had 17 with six assists. Ahron Ulis added 10 points.
North Florida (5-3) was led by senior guard Nate Lliteras, who had 17 points, with Jasai Miles adding 14. The Ospreys hit 14 3-pointers but attempted 43 and shot 38.5 percent from the field.
The Cornhuskers led 53-32 at halftime thanks to 58.8 percent shooting. They made their first three shots to open the second half, including two Essegian 3-pointers, to bump the edge to 27.
Seven straight points from Lliteras, including a four-point play, got North Florida within 67-52 with 14:15 left. The Ospreys could get no closer, as Nebraska put it away with a 7-0 run to get the margin back above 20 with 11:26 left.
Nebraska hit five of its first seven shots, including all three 3-point attempts, and used a 15-0 run to take an 18-4 lead less than six minutes in.
An 8-2 North Florida run got it within 10 with 8:37 left in the first half but the Cornhuskers responded with a 13-2 run to lead 41-20.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
North Florida |
|
Nebraska |
Nate Lliteras 17 |
Scoring |
Connor Essegian 22 |
Jaylen Smith 6 |
Assists |
Brice Williams 6 |
Jasai Miles 8 |
Rebounds |
Andrew Morgan 9 |
Jaylen Smith 4 |
Free Throws Made |
Juwan Gary 3 |
Mason Lee 1 |
Steals |
Sam Hoiberg 4 |
Mason Lee 1 |
Blocks |
Juwan Gary 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
North Florida
|
72 |
38.5 |
14-43 |
8-12 |
13 |
32 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
Nebraska
|
103 |
58.0 |
11-24 |
12-18 |
22 |
35 |
4 |
12 |
6 |