Huskers rally for 10th win over determined North Dakota

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska put six players in double figures and used a strong second-half surge to fight off North Dakota, 83-75, Wednesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Huskers (10-2) overcame a 14-point second-half deficit by shooting 58 percent from the floor after halftime en route to out-scoring North Dakota, 51-33, in the final 20 minutes. The 10-2 start marks NU’s best 12-game start since the 2018-19 campaign.

C.J. Wilcher led six Huskers in double figures with 16 points off the bench, including four 3-pointers, while Jamarques Lawrence and Keisei Tominaga had 14 markers apiece.

Tominaga had seven of his 11 second-half points in a 14-1 run that saw the Huskers nearly completely erase a 46-32 deficit in the first five minutes of the second half. The Huskers had runs of 12-0 and 9-0 in the first nine minutes after halftime, as the Huskers eventually built a 57-51 lead.

North Dakota (8-5) stayed within striking distance and was within 68-67 after B.J. Omot’s basket with 4:33 left before Lawrence took over. The sophomore had eight of his 14 points in a 11-2 spurt that gave the Huskers a 10-point lead with 46 seconds left to finally subdue the Fighting Hawks.

Juwan Gary posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 12 boards, while Brice Williams and Josiah Allick added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Huskers, coming off wins over Michigan State and Kansas State, got off to a slow start as North Dakota jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the first four-plus minutes. NU would regain its footing with the help of Wilcher, who came off the bench with a trio of 3-pointers to get NU within 17-13.

Nebraska trailed 25-15 before the Huskers went on a 14-3 run and took a 29-28 lead after five straight points from Sam Hoiberg to force a Fighting Hawks timeout.

The lead would be short lived, as the visitors used an 11-0 run to build a 42-31 lead after B.J. Omot’s basket with 47 seconds left in the half and took a 10-point into the locker room. North Dakota would score on its first two possessions, stretching its margin to 14 before the Huskers rallied.

Tyree Ihenacho led North Dakota with 22 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers, while Omot added 21 points and eight boards. NU held the Fighting Hawks to just 39 percent shooting, including 37 in the final 20 minutes.

Nebraska continues its homestand Friday vs. South Carolina State.