Nebraska earns first NCAA tournament win with storybook ending OKLAHOMA CITY — With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg made a strategic move by substituting in junior forwards Pryce Sandfort and Berke Buyuktuncel, allowing them to soak in the moment as the Huskers secured their first-ever NCAA tournament victory. The No. 4 seed Nebraska team dominated No. 13 seed Troy with a 76-47 win, marking a historic milestone for the program after eight previous appearances in the Big Dance without a win. The crowd erupted in celebration, honoring the players who helped achieve the breakthrough, while the team’s bench emptied for a joyous embrace as they set a new single-season win record with 27 victories. The victory was a culmination of seven years of effort under Hoiberg, who faced three consecutive losing seasons from 2019 to 2022. After a 16-16 campaign in 2022-23, Nebraska rebounded with three straight seasons of at least 20 wins, including two NCAA tournament berths. This win solidified their place in tournament history, as they became the only major conference team without a prior tournament victory. The 29-point margin of victory also ranks among the largest in NCAA history for a team’s first-ever win, surpassing Fordham’s 31-point margin in 1971. Pryce Sandfort, the game’s leading scorer with 23 points, carried the Huskers with seven 3-pointers, including a career-high performance in the tournament. His 17 first-half points helped Nebraska overcome a slow start from Troy, as the team’s offensive rhythm took control. Sandfort’s efforts were highlighted by a surprise appearance from his brother, Payton Sandfort, who made his NBA debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder the night before.#nebraska #oklahoma_city #troy #fred_hoiberg #pryce_sandfort
Sun Belt Tournament Begins in Pensacola; Arkansas State Plays Thursday The 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve officially kicks off today in Pensacola, Florida, with all 14 Sun Belt institutions competing in a single-elimination tournament. The event will run from March 3 to March 9 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Seedings and matchups were finalized Friday evening following the conclusion of the regular season. Troy, with a 20-11 overall record and a 12-6 mark in conference play, secured the regular season championship and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. This marks the Trojans’ second consecutive title, following their first victory in the tournament since 2017. Six teams tied for second place in the conference standings with 11-7 records, including Marshall, Coastal Carolina, App State, Texas State, South Alabama, and Arkansas State. The tournament format has been adjusted for the 2024-25 season, granting the top two seeds automatic byes to the semifinals. No. 1 seed Troy and No. 2 seed Marshall will advance directly to the semifinals on March 8, while No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina and No. 4 seed App State will receive byes to the quarterfinals on March 7. First-round games will begin on March 3, with all matches broadcast on ESPN+. The championship game will air on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. CT on March 9. The tournament schedule includes a series of matchups starting with the first round on March 3. Notable games include Louisiana facing Georgia State at 5 p.m. CT, followed by Old Dominion against ULM at 7:30 p.m. CT. Subsequent rounds will feature matchups between higher-seeded teams and winners from earlier games, with the final showdown between the semifinalists on March 9.#sun_belt_conference #pensacola_bay_center #troy #marshall #arkansas_state
