No. 13 Nebraska survived a gritty defensive battle to defeat No. 9 Michigan State, 58-56, on Friday night, extending the program’s longest win streak to 18 games and improving to a perfect 14-0 (3-0 Big Ten).
Rienk Mast drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:54 left and finished with a team-high 19 points. Pryce Sandfort added 13 and Jamarques Lawrence 12 for the Huskers, who held the Spartans to poor second-half shooting and forced 19 turnovers.
The electric crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena erupted at the buzzer, with thousands of red-clad fans storming the court in celebration — a scene captured in viral photos and videos of the sea of supporters surrounding players.
Yet in the postgame press conference, Nebraska’s players gently pushed back.
“We’re supposed to win that game, guys,” Lawrence said, via ESPN. “No more court storms, please.”
Mast agreed, but appreciated the passion, emphasizing the team now expects to beat ranked opponents.
“If you’re the No. 13 against the No. 9 and you’re at home, in my opinion, you’re supposed to win that game,” Mast said. “I don’t blame the fans. They got excited for that win. From here on out, we’ve proven we belong in these games, and we’re supposed to win these types of games.”
While the players downplayed the drama, the victory ranks among the biggest in program history.
Still, for a program seeking its first NCAA tournament victory, the message is clear — court storms are for upsets, not the new normal.
