This game was never really in doubt as the Huskers led wire-to-wire. Northwestern is a decent team, and very well-coached, but did not have the firepower to challenge the Huskers. Nebraska got a much-needed conference win and moves to 16-5 overall and evens up their conference record at 5-5. Northwestern falls to 8-13 and 2-8. The Huskers were led by Britt Prince with 28 points. Nissley (14), Hake (13) and Hargrove (13) also scored in double digits. Hargrove notched a double-double with 11 rebounds. Prince was second on the team with six rebounds and led with six assists.
Nebraska
Nebraska WBB Defeats Northwestern 89-73
Nebraska shot 53% overall (30-57) and held the Wildcats to 45% (25-55). As a team, the Huskers shot 90% from the free throw line (18-20). They outrebounded Northwestern 37-27 but committed 14 turnovers to 12 for the Wildcats.
Jessica Petrie was sick so Amiah Hargrove joined the starting lineup along with Britt Prince, Eliza Maupin, Logan Nissley, and Callin Hake. Maupin opened the scoring with a layup assisted by Prince. That basket was quickly answered by the Wildcats. The next two minutes included a Prince three-pointer, a block by Hargrove, and a tie-up by Hake (7-4 Neb). The game continued to be tight to the mid-quarter timeout (12-10 Neb). The Huskers played eight in that stretch while the Wildcats stuck with their starters.
Kennadi Williams is seeing increased playing time, and deservedly so, as she works harder than anyone and makes good decisions. You can tell she is a coach’s kid.
Quick scoring out of the timeout led to a 16-13 Husker lead. That score stuck for two minutes and saw one Wildcat starter (Lau) rack up her second foul. Aaaaaand then two more Northwestern players (Turner and Sullivan) also picked up second fouls. The Wildcats do not play a deep rotation so that development was big. The Huskers made a concerted effort to drive the basket and force Northwestern to play defense (22-15 Neb). Emily Fisher picked up her second foul for Nebraska. Callin Hake called “bank” and drained a three off the glass AND THEN FISHER HIT A HALF COURT THREE TO END THE HALF!
Nebraska 28 Northwestern 17
Seven Huskers scored in the first quarter compared to three Wildcats. Britt Prince already has eight points.
Petra Bozan assisted a Nissley three early in the quarter and then Hake notched a long shot of her own (34-18 Neb). Bozan is playing a solid game. Yet another Wildcat (Walton) picked up her second foul. Northwestern has half of their eight-player rotation in early foul trouble (36-18 Neb). The Wildcats went on a small run to cut the 18-point lead to 11 (36-25 Neb) before Fisher converted a three-point play (39-25) which was the third foul on Lau. Then Sullivan was tabbed with her third foul for the Wildcats. There are only three Wildcats in the scoring column and one is on the bench in foul trouble (41-25 Neb).
The Huskers let up a bit on defense as Northwestern converted a couple of easy possessions (44-30 Neb). Another Wildcat starter picked up a second foul (Lash). Despite the foul trouble, the Wildcats managed to close the gap before the half.
Nebraska 47 Northwestern 36
Prince and Hake lead Husker scorers with 10 each. Nissley has four rebounds and Prince four assists. Petra Bozan is in foul trouble for Nebraska (3) while Maupin and Fisher have two. The Huskers are shooting 78% (NOT A TYPO; 7-9) from three-point range and 61% overall (14-23).
The early portion of the quarter included even scoring and reduced foul calls. The Wildcats clawed within 10 (59-49). A weird sequence that looked like a Husker and-one was reviewed and instead deemed a foul on Bozan. Amy Williams let the officials know of her unhappiness. The fouls went against the Huskers more than the Wildcats as no more foul trouble mounted for Northwestern. Instead, Bozan and Fisher were whistled four their fourth violations (67-55 Neb). The quarter ended with one more Nebraska basket.
Nebraska 69 Northwestern 55
The Wildcats’ Sullivan picked up her fourth foul but stayed on the floor. She was helpless to defend and the Huskers attacked (73-55 Neb). The lead grew to 20 with 7:22 left (75-55 Neb). The foul situation changed drastically as Maupin picked up her fourth (the third Husker to reach that number after Bozan and Fisher). Then a Wildcat (Walton) was whistled for four. Nebraska was in the bonus with over six minutes left (79-57 Neb).
Nebraska’s lead dipped to 16 (81-65) and stayed there for a minute or two. The question now was whether anyone would foul out…And Bozan won that challenge and was disqualified with 3:13 left. Then Maupin fouled out at 2:16 with an 83-68 lead. Northwestern went on a run to close within 12 in the last minute (85-73 Neb). Garbage time ensued.
Note: Britt Prince is 44-44 from the free throw line in conference play.
Final. Nebraska 89 Northwestern 73
Nebraska
What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska
Troy coach Scott Cross met with the media following his team’s 76-47 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The victory was the first NCAA Tournament win in Nebraska basketball history.
The Huskers were led by Pryce Sandfort, who scored 23 points in the victory. The former Iowa Hawkeye shot 7-of-13 from the floor and 7-of-12 from the 3-point line. Rienk Mast contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds in the win.
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As a team, the Huskers shot 25-of-65 from the field, 14-of-39 from the 3-point line and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Troy shot 13-of-46 from the floor, 8-of-28 from beyond the arc and 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.
Cross told the press that while the defeat was difficult to take, he knows his team won’t let this season be defined by this one loss.
“Thank you for being here. I would like to thank the good Lord for the opportunity to just have your guts absolutely ripped out. It stinks, but I told our guys in the locker room, they’re not defined by this basketball game.”
Troy entered the NCAA Tournament on a four-game winning streak after earning the regular-season and tournament titles in the Sun Belt Conference. Cross acknowledged that this Nebraska team is one of the best teams he’s seen in his over 25 years of coaching.
“They played an amazing team. Nebraska is one of the best teams. I’ve been doing this since 1998. They’re really, really freaking good. The way they shoot the basketball and the way they defend, watching it on video, you’re, like, man, there’s no openings as you watch it on video.”
Nebraska and Vanderbilt will play on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on TNT.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Troy coach Scott Cross said after first-round loss to Nebraska
Nebraska
How to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska 2026 March Madness tickets
No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the No. 12 McNeese State Cowboys in the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Vanderbilt eliminated McNeese by a score of 78-68 on Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. McNeese took the lead early in the first half, but Vanderbilt came back in the second half in a close, back-and-forth game.
Now, Vanderbilt will face off against the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second round at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 21.
Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska March Madness basketball second round tickets.
Shop Vanderbilt vs. Nebraska March Madness tickets
When is March Madness 2026?
The First Four tipped off the 2026 March Madness tournament on Tuesday, March 17. The two rounds run between Thursday, March 19 and Sunday, March 22. The tournament concludes with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.
Vanderbilt March Madness next opponent
Vanderbilt earned a No. 5 seed in the South regional. They defeated McNeese in its opening game and have advanced to the Round of 32, where they will play the No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Tickets to Vanderbilt’s Round of 32 game start at $193.
Vanderbilt March Madness basketball tickets
Limited Vanderbilt NCAA Tournament tickets are still available for the Round of 32. Get your Vanderbilt March Madness tickets now.
Shop Vanderbilt basketball tickets
Vanderbilt March Madness schedule
After defeating McNeese on Thursday, No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores will take on No. 4 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, March 21. The tipoff time for that game is still to be determined. Shop Vanderbilt Round of 32 tickets now.
More March Madness: Everything fans need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament
Vanderbilt March Madness game locations
Vanderbilt will play their Round of 32 game at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 21.
Limited tickets for the Round of 32 March Madness in Oklahoma City are available. Shop your Vanderbilt NCAA Tournament tickets now.
Vanderbilt Sweet 16 tickets
If the Commodores were to advance to the Sweet 16, they’d travel to they’d travel to Houston, Texas. Sweet 16 tickets in Houston are already available starting at $207.
Shop Vanderbilt basketball tickets
March Madness 2026 full schedule for the men’s tournament
- April 6: National Championship
- March 19-20: First round
- March 21-22: Second round
- March 26-27: Sweet 16
- March 28-29: Elite 8
- April 4-5: Final Four
Shop ALL March Madness tickets
Nebraska
Has Nebraska won an NCAA Tournament game? Cornhuskers’ March Madness history
SGA’s cousin, Troy guard Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow, braces for March Madness
Troy guard Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow, the cousin of Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, goes through practice drills ahead of Troy’s first round matchup with Nebraska on Thursday in Paycom Center.
Nebraska men’s basketball is amid an historic season in 2025-26, earning a program-best No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It’s unprecedented territory for the Cornhuskers, who have never experienced success in March Madness.
Literally.
Seventh-year coach Fred Hoiberg didn’t make the NCAA tournament with Nebraska until his fifth season with the program in 2023-24. The Cornhuskers missed the big dance again last season, although they won the inaugural College Basketball Crown championship before winning 20 consecutive games to start the 2025-26 season.
No. 13 seed Troy, who’s making its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, won’t be an easy out. Nebraska will also certainly be looking to lift some historical blunders off its shoulders with a win.
Here’s what to know of Nebraska’s NCAA Tournament history:
Has Nebraska ever won an NCAA Tournament game?
Nebraska is the only Power conference program to have never won a Men’s NCAA Tournament game, and has its best chance in program history to win its first when it faces Troy in the first round on Thursday, March 19.
It’s the Cornhuskers’ ninth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, having last made the field in 2024. Nebraska lost to Texas A&M 98-83, despite being a No. 8 seed against the No. 9 Aggies in the first round.
Hoiberg said March 18 that he hasn’t addressed the program’s NCAA Tournament history leading up to the game, and that he doesn’t plan to. He did note, however, that there’s pressure involved with the game.
“I know the first question is going to be Nebraska has never won a tournament game,” Hoiberg said. “We realize that. Have I talked to our players about it? No, I haven’t. They know. They see it. Is there a pressure that goes along with that? Of course there is.”
Hoiberg’s son, Sam Hoiberg, is one of Nebraska’s top players. He also addressed what it would mean for the school to win a March Madness game.
“That’s what I’ve been dreaming of since I became a player in this program,” Sam Hoiberg said. “That’s the only thing left to do is get that tournament win. It’s the unsaid thing in every single room, is we don’t have a tournament win. So being able to do it as a senior would be pretty cool.”
Nebraska NCAA Tournament history
- 2024: No. 9 Texas A&M 98, No. 8 Nebraska 83
- 2014: No. 6 Baylor 74, No. 11 Nebraska 60
- 1998: No. 6 Arkansas 74, No. 11 Nebraska 65
- 1994: No. 11 Penn 90, No. 6 Nebraska 80
- 1993: No. 7 New Mexico State 93, No. 10 Nebraska 79
- 1992: No. 9 UConn 86, No. 8 Nebraska 65
- 1991: No. 14 Xavier 89, No. 3 Nebraska 84
- 1986: No. 8 Western Kentucky 67, No. 9 Nebraska 59
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