Mast Posts Triple-Double in Win over FIU

Rienk Mast recorded the third triple-double in school history, while Nebraska hit 17 3-pointers in a 96-66 win over FIU Saturday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

Mast became the first Husker since Dalano Banton in 2020 to record a triple-double as he finished with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, 12 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists. The 6-foot-10 senior had 14 points, 10 boards and five assists by halftime and secured the achievement by hitting Braden Frager on a driving layup with 7:29 remaining.

That was the only drama in the final 15 minutes, as the Huskers opened the second half with a barrage of 3-pointers as part of a 22-6 run in the first 5:20 after halftime to build a 71-34 lead.

On the day, Nebraska went 17-of-34 from beyond the stripe, one shy of the single-game 3-point record which had stood since 2002. Nebraska (2-0) shot 55 percent from the field, put five players in double figures and dished out 29 assists, the team’s highest total since Dec. 21, 1994.

Pryce Sandfort totaled a game-high 20 points, including six 3-pointers to tie his career high. Sandfort had 14 of his 20 points in the five-minute stretch to open the second half.  Braden Frager (15), Connor Essegian (13) and Berke Buyuktuncel (10) all scored in double figures as Nebraska used an early 11-0 and never trailed again.

Nebraska went on an 11-0 run that spanned over three and a half minutes to grab a 16-6 lead early in the first half. The run, which was propelled by steals from Sandfort and Jamarques Lawrence and five points from Buyuktuncel, gave NU a lead that it would never relinquish. 

FIU cut the lead to 10 twice in the half, but the Huskers went on an 8-0 run to close the half and opened the half with six straight points to take a 55-28 lead after a Mast basket with 18:06 left.  

Mast had 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, the 28th of his career, in the first half alone. Mast shot a perfect 6-for-6 in the first half, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.

Moments later, Sandfort went on a personal 11-2 run by himself as the Huskers took a 71-37 lead after Jared Garcia’s 3-pointer with 14:40 left.

Hamed Olayinka and Julian Mackey had 12 points apiece for FIU (1-1), as the Panthers shot 39.4 percent and committed 20 turnovers which led to 30 Husker points.

The Nebraska men’s basketball team will remain home for a contest against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Tip is set for 7 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+. The game can also be heard across the Huskers Radio Network and fans can purchase tickets at huskers.com/tickets.