Big Second Half Pushes No. 12 Nebraska Past USC in LA, 82‑67
By [Your Name], March 1, 2026
LOS ANGELES — No. 12 Nebraska men’s basketball turned in a dominant second‑half performance Saturday to pull away from USC and secure an 82‑67 victory at the Galen Center, handing the Trojans their fifth straight loss and reinforcing Nebraska’s place near the top of the Big Ten standings.
Trailing by five at halftime, the Cornhuskers flipped the script in the second half with an early 12‑2 run and never looked back, outscoring USC by 20 points over the final 20 minutes to close the game with authority.
Sandfort Leads the Charge
Senior wing Pryce Sandfort led all scorers with 32 points, one shy of his career high, and ignited Nebraska’s late surge with timely baskets and five made 3‑pointers. Sandfort’s standout performance helped open up space for his teammates and keyed Nebraska’s decisive second‑half runs.
Supporting Sandfort’s effort, Braden Frager contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, tying his career‑high on the glass, while Rienk Mast added 11 points as the Cornhuskers controlled the boards with a wide margin that translated into second‑chance opportunities and sustained momentum.
“We weren’t ourselves in the first half, but we made the adjustments we needed,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said after the game. “That second half showed what this group is capable of when we lock in on both ends.” (paraphrased)
A Tale of Two Halves
USC jumped out early, shooting over 50 percent in the first half and taking a 36‑31 lead into the break. Trojans guards Alijah Arenas and Chad Baker‑Mazara paced USC, each scoring 14 points before halftime.
But the momentum flipped quickly after halftime as Nebraska’s defense clamped down, holding USC to below 40 percent shooting while pouring in points in transition and off offensive rebounds. A pivotal 15‑0 run midway through the second half pushed the Huskers ahead by 20, effectively putting the game out of reach.
USC’s struggles continued late, with the loss further clouding their NCAA tournament hopes as they dropped to 18‑11 overall and 7‑11 in the Big Ten.
Big Ten Implications
For Nebraska (25‑4, 14‑4), the win marked a school‑record 14th Big Ten victory and extended a three‑game winning streak, fortifying their case for a high NCAA tournament seed when brackets are revealed next month.
The Cornhuskers will wrap up their road trip with a Tuesday night matchup at UCLA, where another strong showing could further boost their résumé heading into postseason play.
USC, meanwhile, will aim to halt its slide when it visits Washington later this week in its final regular‑season road game.
