Nebraska

Bailey, Harper combine for 45 points as Rutgers leaves Lincoln with win

Published

1 year ago

January 17, 2025

Bailey, Harper combine for 45 points as Rutgers leaves Lincoln with win

The biggest question of Thursday night’s game inside Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln between Nebraska and Rutgers was this: Could the Huskers defend their home court against two likely NBA lottery picks in freshmen guards Dylan Harper and Airious “Ace” Bailey?

As the final buzzer sounded, the answer became clear: Not tonight.

Behind a combined 45 points from Bailey (24) and Harper (21), Rutgers left PBA with an 85-82 win over the Huskers, who drop to 12-5 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play. Steve Pikiell’s Scarlet Knights, who started four freshmen, improve to 10-8, 3-4.

The loss was Nebraska’s first at home in more than a year — not since losing to Creighton on Dec. 3, 2023. It’s the first loss to a Big Ten team since Michigan State on Feb. 28, 2023.

“This hurts. We hadn’t lost in this building in a long time, and we got to respond,” Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg said after the game. “We got to find a way to go out and reverse what’s going on on the road right now with our team and give ourselves a chance to win this weekend, hopefully by playing consistent. That’s the biggest thing. We got to be more consistent across the board.”

During this three-game losing streak, the Huskers’ once-stingy defense has given up 97, 104 and 85 points. And then the 3-pointers — there have been many. The Huskers allowed Iowa to make 17 and Purdue 19, which set a record for most treys made by an opponent. And Rutgers? The Knights made 12 on Thursday night. Bailey made four of them while Harper made three.

Hoiberg said he and his staff have charted every one of those 3s from Iowa and Purdue, and will do the same for tonight’s loss.

“A lot of them are happening in transition. Ten of them in conference have happened in transition,” Hoiberg said. “Miscues, soft close-outs, soft double-teams on the post. When we do it right, we’re pretty good. And again, it just goes down to consistency, that’s the biggest thing. We have to find a way to be a more consistent team and have better hands. Deflections, I think they had eight turnovers tonight. We’re better than that, we normally force more with hand activity. You got to find a way to force looping passes to buy your rotations time. But we’ll address it the film session tomorrow, and hopefully grow from it.”

Nebraska won the rebounding battle 42-40 and grabbed 19 offensive boards, which it turned into 25 second-chance points. But Rutgers also did damage in the offensive glass with 17 of them for 19 points.

“I thought our inability to finish possessions was the difference tonight,” Hoiberg said. “We got 19 of them, that’s a good sign. But we gave them 17. You find a way to get a couple of those defensive rebounds, I think we find a way to win that game. Just too many second chance opportunities. When they did miss, you got to find a way to get that thing.

“To me, it was toughness. Wasn’t an effort thing,” Hoiberg added. “We played hard. But just because you play hard doesn’t mean you’re tough. You got to find a way to finish off those possessions.”

A key stat that will stand out to many: free throws. Nebraska didn’t do well in that department, hitting just 17-of-27. And in a tight game in the second half where those freebies are crucial, the Huskers went just 6-of-12.

Under the microscope will be Braxton Meah, the 7-foot-1 senior who went 0-of-3 at the line in a stretch of a minute-and-a-half with his team up 76-72.

Another stat that tells a story: the shots near the rim. Like it did in the loss at Iowa, Nebraska struggled to make shots in the paint and ended the game going 9-of-18. Connect on a few more of those, and the win streak inside PBA could’ve been extended to 21 instead of ending at 20.

Nebraska heads to the East Coast to take on the Maryland Terrapins (13-5, 3-4) on Sunday at 11 a.m.

After consecutive road losses at Washington and Oregon, Maryland responded well by beating UCLA and Minnesota at home. The Terrapins were on the road at Northwestern on Thursday night and fell in overtime.

The Terrapins are 11-1 at home this season.

“We got a big game coming up on a short turnaround. And as I said to the guys in the locker room, I like the short turnaround to hopefully get this bad taste out of our mouths, to get back on the floor and compete again,” Hoiberg said. “Tomorrow is going to be a mental day, a lot of film, and put the game plan in. And then we’ll go a little bit harder on Saturday with the early game on Sunday.”

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

Published

9 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.

On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.

Arwinderjit Singh mugshot(Dawson County Jail)

During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.

After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds... — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.(Nebraska State Patrol)

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.

Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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Nebraska

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

Published

21 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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