Huskers Pull Away From Northwestern With Joy

Nebraska basketball team finds its groove in second half to beat Wildcats 68-49

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Nebraska Huskers overcame a slow start to pull away from Northwestern in the second half, winning 68-49 behind a strong defensive effort and 29 points from Pryce Sandfort. The Huskers were able to turn a 3-point deficit into a 19-point lead with a 29-9 run, sparked by a lineup change and an emphasis on playing with more joy and energy.

Why it matters

This win keeps Nebraska in the hunt for a top spot in the Big Ten standings, as they improve to 22-3 overall and 11-3 in conference play. The Huskers showed resilience in battling back from an early deficit, demonstrating the team's ability to make adjustments and find their rhythm when needed.

The details

After trailing 38-35 with 13 minutes left, Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg went with a lineup of Pryce Sandfort, Sam Hoiberg, Cale Jacobsen, Berke Buyuktuncel, and Cale Jacobsen. That group sparked a 29-9 run to pull away, with Sandfort scoring 29 points and hitting 6 three-pointers. The Huskers also dominated the boards, outrebounding Northwestern 40-24.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • Nebraska trailed 38-35 with 13:16 remaining in the second half.

The players

Pryce Sandfort

A Nebraska player who scored 29 points and hit 6 three-pointers in the win.

Sam Hoiberg

A Nebraska player who had 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in the game.

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the Nebraska Huskers basketball team.

Cale Jacobsen

A Nebraska player who scored 10 points, including two big three-pointers, in the win.

Berke Buyuktuncel

A Nebraska player who provided strong defense and interior presence during the Huskers' second-half run.

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What they’re saying

“We really talked about playing with joy. We're almost so business-like that we haven't been enjoying this ride and that was one thing my dad was huge in emphasizing this week. And I thought today was a game where we played in as much joy as we had in a while. And that leads to good things.”

— Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska Player (247sports.com)

“I think we have the experience to kind of feel when the game shifts, like this is when we can take over now.”

— Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska Player (247sports.com)

“I don't know what his stat line was but it felt like every time we broke down he was up at the rim contesting or getting a blocked shot. And then offensively, when he was up at the 5 they weren't switching like they were with Rienk. So it allowed us to kind of play our offense and to cut and move with him at the top of the floor and just making plays.”

— Cale Jacobsen, Nebraska Player (247sports.com)

What’s next

Nebraska will look to build on this win when they travel to Iowa on Tuesday, February 18th.

The takeaway

Nebraska's ability to overcome early struggles, lock down defensively, and play with renewed energy and joy shows the team's resilience and potential to make a deep run in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.