Huskers Host No. 8 BYU in Exhibition Saturday Afternoon

It’s a matchup of the Big Ten and the Big 12 Saturday afternoon in Lincoln, as Nebraska hosts BYU in an exhibition contest at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff is slated for 12:01 p.m., and the game will be carried on B1G+ (subscription required).

The radio broadcast is available on select Husker Sports Network affiliated, as well as on Huskers.com and on the Huskers app.  A limited number of 300 Level tickets are available for the matchup by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets or at the PBA Ticket Office beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. 

Saturday's game with the Cougars marks the first of two exhibition games for the Big Red before opening the regular season against West Georgia on Nov. 3. Nebraska comes off its second consecutive 20-win season, going 21-14 and winning the inaugural College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas last April.  The 2025-26 Huskers feature a blend of returnees and newcomers, including one player who is both a returnee to the program and a newcomer this season in senior guard Jamarques Lawrence. The 6-foot-3 senior began his career at Nebraska, spending his first two seasons in the program and started 23 of 34 games on the Huskers' NCAA Tournament team in 2023-24. Last season, he started 31 games at Rhode Island, averaging 9.9 points and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. 

Lawrence is one of two Husker starters from 2023-24 back in action for NU this season, as Rienk Mast also returns after missing all of the last season following knee surgery in May of 2024. The seventh-year senior was a third-team All-Big Ten performer two years ago, as he averaged 12.3 points per game while also topping NU in rebounds (7.5 rpg) and assists (3.0 apg). The 6-foot-10 forward also shot 34 percent from 3-point range in 2023-24.

In addition to those two players, NU also returns two starters from last season's 21-win team in senior guard Sam Hoiberg (3.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 spg) and junior forward Berke Büyüktuncel (6.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) along with senior Connor Essegian, who averaged 10.7 ppg and topped NU with 78 3-pointers as the Huskers' sixth man in 2024-25.

BYU comes into Saturday's game ranked eighth in the preseason AP poll following a season where the Cougars went 26-10 before losing to Alabama in the NCAA Sweet 16. All-Big Ten guard Richie Saunders (16.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) returns while the Cougars add one of the nation's top incoming classes, featuring one of the nation's top recruits in AJ Dybantsa as well Baylor transfer Robert Wright III.

Nebraska Exhibition History
Nebraska is 64-7 all-time in exhibition games dating back to the 1966-67 season and has won 33 of 35 exhibition games dating back to 2001. Nebraska had a 20-game win streak in exhibition games snapped in the charity exhibition at Colorado in 2022.

• Saturday's exhibition will be the first against a power conference team since a charity exhibition at Colorado in 2022.
• A rule change last year allowed teams to have exhibition games against Division I programs. Previously, they were only allowed as charity exhibitions.
• NU played three charity exhibition games since 2017, including a trip to Mississippi State in 2017-18 and a two-game series against Colorado in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
• Nebraska will have a second exhibition game on Monday, Oct. 27, against Midland. Tipoff for that game is at 6:30 p.m.

Exhibition Games Under Fred Hoiberg

Season	Opponent	Result	Score
2019-20	Doane	W	91-63
2021-22	Peru State	W	97-58
2021-22	Colorado @	W	82-67
2022-23	Chadron State	W	87-60
2022-23	at Colorado @	L	61-72
2023-24	Doane	W	84-53
2024-25	Grand Valley State	W	73-53

@ - Charity Exhibition game

Series History vs. BYU
Nebraska is 1-4 all-time against BYU in a series that dates back to 1931, and Saturday's meeting is the first since an 88-66 BYU win in the title game of the 2009 Las Vegas Classic on Dec. 23, 2009. In that game, Jimmer Fredette led BYU with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting.  Eshaunte "Bear" Jones paced the Huskers with 21 points off the bench, his highest point total in his three seasons at Nebraska.

• This starts a two-year home-and-home exhibition series, as Nebraska travels to Provo next October.
• Prior to the 2009 meeting, the teams met four times between 1931 and 1935, including home-and-home matchups in 1935-36. In the first meeting in Lincoln, NU posted a 52-34 win over the Cougars before BYU won in Provo, 46-39, 11 days later.
• The Huskers, who played in the Big 12 from 1996-97 until 2020-11, are 483-576 all-time against the current members of the Big 12.
• Nebraska has won its last three games against Big 12 teams, including a 2-0 mark last year. The Huskers defeated UCF (77-66) in College Basketball Crown title game and topped Arizona State (86-78) in the CBC opener. In 2023-24, Nebraska won at Kansas State (62-46).
• During the regular season, Nebraska could meet another Big 12 foe, as the Huskers and Kansas State could meet in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, which takes place Nov. 20-21.

Scouting BYU
BYU comes to Lincoln with a No. 8 preseason ranking in the AP poll following a year where the Cougars went 26-10 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16.

Kevin Young begins his second year at BYU after leading the Cougars to a third-place finish in the Big 12 in his first year. Before taking over the BYU program, he served as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns from 2020-24, as he was the associate head coach of the Suns for his final three seasons. During his tenure in Phoenix, the Suns made the 2021 NBA Finals and made the playoffs all four years he was with the franchise. He also was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2016 to 2020 and was in the NBA G League from 2007-16, serving as head coach of the Utah Flash (2010-11), Iowa Energy (2011-13) and Delaware 76ers (2014-16).

The Cougars return All-Big 12 performer Richie Saunders, who averaged 16.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and Keba Keita, who averaged 7.5 points per game and led BYU in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and blocked shots (1.2 bpg).  BYU also adds arguably the nation’s top recruit in AJ Dybantsa, who was named the Most Valuable Player at his past summer’s FIBA U19 World Cup en route to leading USA Basketball to the title. In addition, BYU also added a quartet of transfers led by Baylor transfer Robert Wright III, who was considered one of the top 10 transfers in the country by ESPN.

A Look at Nebraska
The Huskers begin their quest for a third straight postseason appearance, bringing back four players who have made at least 15 starts in NU careers. The Huskers will be led by All-Big Ten forward Rienk Mast, who returns after missing all last season following knee surgery. Two years ago, Mast averaged 12.3 points and led NU in both rebounding (7.5 rpg) and assists (3.0 apg). NU also brings back returning starters Berke Büyüktuncel (6.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Sam Hoiberg (3.9 ppg; 1.9 apg) and regains the services of Jamarques Lawrence, who started 23 games on NU’s 2023-24 NCAA Tournament and started 31 games at Rhode Island last season. The Huskers also return senior guard Connor Essegian, who averaged 10.7 ppg, including 38 percent from 3-point range, as the team’s sixth man last season and Cale Jacobsen, who played in 24 games, including the final three rounds of the CBC. NU also added eight newcomers (six transfers and two freshman) to help offset the loss.

Huskers Bidding for Third Straight Postseason Appearance
The Huskers will be shooting for a third straight postseason appearance in 2025-26. It would be the first time since a nine-year stretch between 1990-91 and 1998-99 and just the third time in the program history. NU also made five straight postseason appearances between 1982-83 and 1986-87.

Back-to-Back 20 Win Seasons
Nebraska finished with 21 wins in 2024-25, a total which tied for seventh on the Huskers’ single-season list. It marked the 15th 20-win season in program history and second straight under Fred Hoiberg. 

• NU has 44 wins over the past two seasons, which is the second-highest consecutive two-year total in program history. NU won 45 games spanning the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons.
• Nebraska posted consecutive 20-win seasons for the third time in school history and the first since the late 1990s. Fred Hoiberg joined Danny Nee (twice) as the only Husker men’s basketball coaches in school history to accomplish the feat. Hoiberg would be the first Husker coach to ever accomplish the feat at Nebraska if the Huskers can eclipse the 20-win mark in 2025-26.

Return of Mast Anchors Husker Post
The biggest addition of the offseason is the healthy return of Rienk Mast to the Husker lineup. Mast earned all-conference recognition from both the coaches and media in 2023-24, but missed all of last season following left knee surgery. Mast, who averaged 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, began limited practice work last July and has been full go during practice.

• Mast is a three-time all-conference pick, as he was also a two-time All-Missouri Valley selection at Bradley in 2022 and 2023.
• In 2023-24, Mast led Nebraska in both rebounding and assists, becoming just the third player in school history to lead the team in both assists and rebounds in the same season. He finished the year ranked in the top 15 in the Big Ten in both rebounds (seventh) and assists (15th) per game.
• Mast's 7.53 rebounds per game was the rebounds per game by a Husker since 2007-08 (Aleks Maric, 10.2). Ed Morrow Jr. also averaged 7.50 rebounds per game in 2016-17 but played just 24 games.
• His six double-doubles are the most by a Husker since Aleks Maric had 15 during the 2007-08 season, as Mast and Maric are the only Huskers in the last two decades with at least six double-doubles in a season.
• He had the best game of his career against Ohio State on Jan. 23, setting highs in points (34), field goals (13) and 3-pointers (six) while adding 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.
• His performance against OSU was the first 30-point, 10-rebound game by a Husker since 2008. Mast, Maric and Eric Piatkowski are the only Huskers with 30-point, 10-rebound games in the last 30 years.
• He keyed Nebraska's upset of No. 1 Purdue with 18 points, including 14 in the first half while helping limit two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey to 15 points.
• Against Florida A&M on Nov. 9, he became the first Husker in the Big Ten era (2011-12 to present) to have a game with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, and first since Aleks Maric in 2008.

Mast Doubles Up
Rienk Mast enters the 2025-26 season as one of the nation's returning leaders in double doubles. He is one of just eight active Division I players to have at least 25 career double-doubles entering the season.

No.	Player (2025-26 School)	Double-Doubles
1.	Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan	45
2.	Lassina Traore, Texas	32
t3.	JT Toppin, Texas Tech	31
t3.	Graham Ike, Gonzaga	31
5.	Brandon Noel, Ohio State	29
6.	Carson Towt, Notre Dame	28
7.	Caden Pierce, Princeton	27
8.	Rienk Mast, Nebraska	26

Essegian Flourishes as Husker Sixth Man
Nebraska's top returning scorer from 2024-25 is senior Connor Essegian, who emerged as one of the Big Ten's top sixth men a year ago. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 10.7 points per game while pacing the Big Red with 78 3-pointers.  He finished ninth in the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game (2.2/gm) and 11th in 3-point percentage (.377).

• Essegian finished second in Big Ten scoring among reserves, as he was one of three Big Ten players to average double figures while starting 10 or fewer games.
• He tied for sixth on NU’s single-season 3-point list with 78, the most by a Husker since Glynn Watson Jr. had 82 in 2019.
• Essegian totaled five 20-point games, including a 21-point effort against UCF in the title game of the College Basketball Crown.
• Essegian scored a career-high 29 points in NU’s win over South Dakota on Nov. 27. In that game, he set personal highs in points (29), assists (five) and 3-pointers (six).

 

Adding Punch from the Portal

Nebraska has relied on the transfer portal under Fred Hoiberg, getting players such as All-Big Ten performers Derrick Walker (2023) Rienk Mast (2024) and Brice Williams (2025) in his six years at Nebraska. The Huskers’ six-member transfer class this season enters 2025-26 with over 200 combined starts and nearly 3,400 points and 1,500 rebounds. Lawrence, who spent two years at Nebraska before starting 31 games at Rhode Island last year, Blue and Jarusevicius all started at their previous institutions last season. Sandfort was one of the Big Ten's leading bench scorers while Garcia started at Tulsa in 2023-24.

Husker Portal Additions

Player	2024-25 School	GP	Starts	Pts.	Reb.	Asst.
Lawrence	Rhode Island	93	66	682	222	190
Blue	St. Thomas	100	89	1,013	395	185
Cooper	Air Force	21	0	112	37	8
Jarusevicius	Central Michigan	69	25	640	294	25
Garcia	Tulsa	88	31	573	335	59
Sandfort	Iowa	65	2	365	129	57
Total		436	213	3,385	1,412	524

A Trio of Hoibergs
Fans watching Husker basketball will see a trio of Hoiberg family members in 2025-26.

• Head Coach Fred Hoiberg begins his seventh season at the helm of the program after guiding the Huskers to back-to-back postseason appearances.
• Senior guard Sam Hoiberg returns for his fifth season, as he has played in every game the past two seasons. Last season, he started 15 of the Huskers' final 16 contests and topped the Big Red with 1.4 steals per game.
• Charlie Hoiberg begins his first season as a graduate manager for the Huskers after earning his undergraduate degree at TCU last May. Charlie, who is Sam's twin brother, was a manager for TCU last season.

Huskers Making Mark with National Teams
Connor Essegian and Leo Curtis spent part of the summers representing their countries in international action.

Essegian played with the Armenian National Team for the third straight summer. He helped Armenia to a two-game sweep of Costa Rica in June, averaging 16.0 points and 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Essegian had 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting, six boards and three steals in the finale.

Curtis spent part of the summer training with the Iceland U20 team, as they played in the 2025 U20 EuroBasket Championships in Greece. He finished the seven-game tournament leading all players in blocked shots (2.7 per game) and ranking in the top three in both rebounding (8.1 rpg, third), and minutes played (31.6, second).  Curtis, who finished in double figures in six of Iceland’s seven games, topped Iceland in scoring (14.6 ppg), rebounding, blocked shots and minutes played while dishing out 2.9 assists per game.

A Daunting Slate Ahead
Saturday's exhibition game against No. 8 BYU is the first of several top-25 opponents the Huskers will see based on the Associated Press preseason poll.

 NU is slated to face seven teams in the AP Top 25 including top-ranked Purdue, No. 7 Michigan, No. 12 UCLA, No. 17 Illinois, No. 22 Michigan State, No. 23 Creighton and No. 24 Wisconsin. In addition, NU will face seven other teams who are receiving votes in the preseason polls, including Oregon, Ohio State, Southern Cal, Washington, Iowa, Indiana and Oklahoma. The Huskers will also face either Kansas State or Mississippi State in the Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 21., as both teams are receiving votes.

Nebraska went 4-4 against ranked opponents in 2024-25, as the four wins over ranked teams tie a school record done three other times in school history.

Home Sweet Home
The Huskers have made Pinnacle Bank Arena a formidable home court in recent seasons under Fred Hoiberg. In 2024-25, NU was 10-6 at home with six wins coming by double figures and is an impressive 39-11 (.780) over the last three seasons.

• Nebraska finished the season ranked 13th nationally in attendance with 14,964 fans per game.
• NU has ranked in the top-15 nationally in attendance 10 times since Pinnacle Bank Arena opened in 2013-14.
• NU set a school record with a 20-game home winning streak spanning the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons until the streak was broken against Rutgers on Jan. 16, 2025.

What's New a PBA This Season
Fans will see a number of upgrades at Pinnacle Bank Arena this season, as ASM Globel and PBA completed $10 million in capital improvements to help continue a first-class experience for fans and teams earlier this fall.

• Center court features a new center hung scoreboard. The 37' 6" tall by 32' 6" wide scoreboard features a resolution of 29.9 million pixels. For comparison, the previous board had 6.5 million pixels. The board has fully integrated video screen capability, including the underbelly.
• A new 900 feet ribbon board was added inside the arena, expanding from 2' 7" tall to 3' 1" tall. The resolution doubled from 1.3 million pixels to 2.6 million pixels.
• The arena wi-fi network was upgraded throughout the PBA. The access points went from 250 to 600, tripling coverage and improving performance 5x, as a new 10 GB fiber pipe was added. Access points are in the seating areas with each access point supporting 70 seats.
• Other enhancements included new LED lighting enhancements on the roof and in the concourses, along with new seats in the suite area around the arena.

Replacing the Class of 2025
Nebraska looks to replace a trio of starters who have moved on to the professional ranks in Brice Williams, Juwan Gary and Rollie Worster.

• Williams, who helped NU to a pair of postseason appearances, put together one of the best single-season performances in school history in 2024-25. A first-team All-Big Ten performer, he averaged 20.4 points per game the highest average since Tyronn Lue in 1997-98. A three-time national player of the Week, Williams set a school-record with 713 points, including a school-record 43-point effort at Ohio State. He is currently in camp with the Detroit Pistons.
• Gary was a three-year starter who totaled nearly 1,000 points in his three-year Husker career. Last season, Gary averaged a career-best 14.6 points per game while adding 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He was named "King of the Crown" as he averaged 19.0 points on 52 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds per game in four games. Gary is playing for Charleroi in Belgium this season.
• Worster started 26 of 31 games before a foot injury ended his season. He averaged 7.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game after playing previously at Utah and Utah State. He is playing professionally for Team FOG Naestved in Denmark.