PISCATAWAY, NJ – Rienk Mast scored 26 points and pulled in eight rebounds, as No. 9 Nebraska picked up a single-season school record sixth conference road win in the Huskers’ 80-68 victory at Rutgers Saturday afternoon in Jersey Mike’s Arena.
The Huskers improved to 21-2 on the season, which marks the program’s best 23-game record since going 21-2 in 19-20.
Behind Mast’s 26 points and eight boards, Sam Hoiberg added 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Pryce Sandfort chipped in 15 points and Jamarques Lawrence netted 12 points to go with a team-high seven assists.
In the first half, the Huskers took control over the final 10 minutes, outscoring the Scarlet Knights 21-9 to turn a two-point lead into a 41-27 halftime lead. The Huskers shot 50 percent from the field and got 13 first-half points from Mast and eight points and four assists from Lawrence.
Rutgers was within 30-24 after a Jamichael Davis basket, but a two straight baskets from Mast and a 3-pointer from Lawrence stretched the lead to 37-24 with 2:15 left in the half. In all, the Huskers closed the half on an 11-2 run over the final 4:11 as Mast’s basket with 1.9 seconds left gave NU its largest lead of the half, at 41-27.
Nebraska continued its strong shooting early in the second half, stretching the lead to 19 after Hoiberg’s second 3-pointer of the second half with 16:19 left forced a Rutgers timeout.
The Huskers eventually got the lead to 20, at 61-41 after a Braden Frager basket with 12:11 left before Rutgers went on a 9-2 run, pulling to within 63-50 after a 3-point play from Dylan Grant with 10:29 left.
A layup from Sandfort, followed by a pair of free throws by Mast had the Big Red out front 77-60 with 2:29 remaining.
The Scarlet Knights scored six straight points to pull within 10 with 33 seconds left, but two free throws from Cale Jacobsen with 27 seconds left gave the Nebraska its 80-68 win on Saturday afternoon.