Nebraska
Saturday Big Ten Recap: Nebraska Survives Northwestern
The Big Ten had a full slate of games on Saturday, with six teams in action. A matchup between Iowa and Purdue figured to be the most intriguing games, but Nebraska and Northwestern had other thoughts. Ohio State and Penn State also faced off.
Let’s take a look at what happened.
-Nebraska Cornhuskers 75, Northwestern Wildcats 69
The Huskers entered this one as solid favorites and eventually came out on top. However, it took quite a bit of work to get there. Northwestern pushed Nebraska out of the gate and kept things close until deep in the second half, when the Huskers responded to a huge Northwestern run to put the game away in the closing minutes. Josiah Allick led the way for Nebraska with 15 points and five rebounds. Brooks Barnhizer had 24 points for the Wildcats.
Nebraska improved to 14-5 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play with the win. This was an important one on several fronts. To start, it snapped a two-game skid for the Huskers, which included a brutal road loss to Rutgers earlier in the week. It also protected home court and gave the team a solid win for its NCAA resume. Winning the games you “should” win is a key component of making the postseason and this one fell into that category. It’s all about surviving and advancing for the Huskers and they did it here.
On the other side, Northwestern fell to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play with the loss. The team is now just 1-2 over its last three games and 3-3 over its last six. Those struggles have put the Wildcats on the outside of a variety of NCAA bubble projects. TRank now has Northwestern as one of the last four teams in the field and with just a 27.5 percent chance to make the cut on Selection Sunday. Not a great sign of what’s to come.
The Huskers return to action on Tuesday at home against Ohio State. Northwestern will try and bounce back against arch-rival Illinois at home on Wednesday. A win there and the team’s NCAA hopes would improve considerably.
-Ohio State Buckeyes 79, Penn State Nittany Lions 67
This was another one that went as expected, but had a little drama along the way. The Buckeyes were without Scotty Middleton after he was sidelined shortly before tipoff, yet found a way to score a 12-point home win over Penn State. Evan Mahaffey led the way with 16 points and five rebounds. Jamison Battle also had 11 points and six rebounds.
Ohio State improved to 13-5 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play with the win while Penn State fell to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play with the loss. The win snapped a three-game skid for the Buckeyes, who will hope to build on it against Nebraska on the road on Tuesday. Penn State returns to action on the 27th at home against Minnesota.
-No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers 84, Iowa Hawkeyes 70
The Boilermakers scored a comfortable win in this one, topping Iowa on the road by 14 points. Purdue got up early and never looked back. Zach Edey led the way with an incredible 30 points and 18 rebounds. Lance Jones also had 17 points. All told, Purdue scored 1.22 points per possession.
Purdue improved to 17-2 overall and 6-2 in Big Ten play with the win while Iowa fell to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play. The Boilers will return to action on Tuesday at home against Michigan. Iowa gets Maryland at home on Wednesday.
Nebraska
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.
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.

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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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
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.”
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.”
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.”
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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Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
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.”
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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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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