Nebraska powers past Troy in NCAA tournament first round matchup

Nebraska delivered a commanding performance in the NCAA Tournament, overwhelming Troy State 76–47 in a first‑round matchup that showcased the Cornhuskers' firepower and defensive discipline. Troy State opened the game with confidence, knocking down early threes from Victor Valdes and Cooper Campbell to briefly take a 15–12 lead. But once Nebraska settled in, the momentum shifted sharply. Pryce Sandfort ignited the Huskers' offense with a barrage of three‑pointers, scoring 17 points in the first half alone and helping fuel a decisive 29–10 run that sent Nebraska into halftime with a 41–25 advantage. Troy State attempted to regroup after the break, scoring the first five points of the second half, but Nebraska quickly extinguished any hope of a comeback. Sandfort buried another deep three to spark an 11–2 surge, and from there the Huskers continued to widen the gap with crisp ball movement, relentless rebounding, and suffocating defense. Troy State struggled to generate consistent offense, managing just five made two‑point field goals and shooting under 30 percent from the floor. Nebraska, meanwhile, knocked down 14 threes and dominated second‑chance opportunities, turning the game into a rout by the final minutes. Sandfort finished with 23 points, while Jamarques Lawrence, Rienk Mast, and Braden Frager all made key contributions. For Nebraska, the victory marked a historic milestone-the program's first NCAA Tournament win-propelling the Huskers into the second round with confidence. For Troy State, the loss was a painful end to an otherwise successful season highlighted by a Sun Belt championship, leaving the Trojans proud of their journey even as they fell short on the national stage.