December 24, 2024December 23, 2024

The Nebraska governor, Jim Pillen, was injured on Sunday after being bucked off a horse and is expected to be hospitalized for several days.

Pillen, a first-term Republican, was with his family when he was thrown off a new horse and injured, according to the governor’s office. He was taken to a hospital in Columbus, Nebraska, and then transported to the University of Nebraska medical center in Omaha.

The governor’s office said Pillen was conscious and alert and has been in touch with his staff. He is expected to remain at the Omaha hospital for several days.

Pillen, 68, was elected governor in 2022. Before becoming governor, he worked as a veterinarian and owned a livestock operation.

HONOLULU, Hawaii (KOLN/Huskers.com) – Andrew Morgan and Connor Essegian combined for 27 points off the bench, while Nebraska’s defense held Murray State to a season-low point total in a 66-49 win in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic Sunday evening.

Morgan posted his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Essegian led Nebraska (8-2) with 15 points, including five 3-pointers. In all, NU’s bench outscored the Racers, 29-11.

The Huskers held Murray State to 31 percent shooting, including just 4-of-28 in the first half as Nebraska built a 20-point halftime lead and led by double figures most of the night. NU held the Racers (6-5) to nearly 30 points below their season average. Rollie Worster was the third Husker in double figures with 11 points, as Nebraska shot nearly 50 percent from the field and enjoyed a 40-26 advantage on the glass.

Nebraska will play Hawai’i on Monday at 9:30 p.m. (central) on ESPN2 and on the Husker Sports Network.

Nebraska put on a defensive clinic in the first half, holding Murray State to just four field goals in the opening 20 minutes in building a 34-14 halftime lead. Nebraska held the Racers to 4-of-28 shooting from the field, including 1-of-13 inside the arc.

Juwan Gary got the Huskers scoring seven of NU’s first nine points in the first 5:15 of the game, as his 3-point play with 14:45 left in the half ignited a 16-0 spurt for Nebraska. The Huskers held MSU scoreless for over six minutes in building a 22-4 lead after a steal and basket from Brice Williams.

Murray State rallied behind Kylen Milton, who scored seven straight points in a 50-second span, including a four-point play to trim the lead to 22-11 with 7:44 left in the half.

Nebraska, which got 17 first-half points from its bench, responded with a pair of 3-pointers from Essegian, who finished with nine first-half points. Nebraska stretched the lead to 20 after consecutive baskets from Morgan.

The Huskers built its largest lead of the game, at 39-16 following a Williams’ 3-pointer with 18:50 left before the Racers started to chip away. Murray State cut a 21-point lead to 16 following a 3-pointer from AJ Ferguson with 14:26 left before a Braxton Meah dunk ended the run.

The teams would trade baskets and NU led 57-38 with just over seven minutes left before the Racers, who shot 48 percent from the field after halftime made one last run. MSU went on an 11-4 run to pull to within 61-49 on a 3-pointer from Kylen Milton with 3:33 left, but would get no closer as a jumper by Wooster and Essegian’s fifth 3-pointer of the night accounted for the final margin.

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