HONOLULU, Hawaii (Huskers.com) – Andrew Morgan and Connor Essegian combined for 27 points off the bench, as Nebraska’s defense held Murray State to a season-low point total in a win of 66-49 in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Sunday evening. .
Morgan had his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Essegian led Nebraska (8-2) with 15 points, including five 3-pointers. Overall, the NU bench outscored the Racers, 29-11.
The Huskers held Murray State to 31 percent shooting, including just 4 of 28 in the first half as Nebraska built a 20-point halftime lead and led by double digits for most of the game. at night. NU held the Racers (6-5) to nearly 30 points below their season average. Rollie Worster was the third Husker in double figures with 11 points, as Nebraska shot nearly 50 percent from the field and enjoyed a 40-26 advantage on the glass.
Nebraska will face Hawai’i Monday at 9:30 p.m. (central) on ESPN2 and the Husker Sports Network.
Nebraska put on a defensive clinic in the first half, limiting Murray State to just four field goals in the first 20 minutes to take a 34-14 halftime lead. Nebraska held the Racers to 4-of-28 shooting from the field, including 1-of-13 inside the arc.
Juwan Gary helped the Huskers score seven of NU’s first nine points in the first 5:15 of the game, as his 3-point play with 14:45 left in the half sparked a 16-0 surge for Nebraska. The Huskers held MSU scoreless for more than six minutes as they took a 22-4 lead after a steal and basket by Brice Williams.
Murray State rallied behind Kylen Milton, who scored seven straight points in 50 seconds, including a four-point play to cut the lead to 22-11 with 7:44 left in the half.
Nebraska, which had 17 first-half points off its bench, responded with a pair of 3-pointers from Essegian, who finished with nine first-half points. Nebraska pushed the lead to 20 after back-to-back baskets from Morgan.
The Huskers built their largest lead of the game, at 39-16 following a 3-point basket by Williams with 18:50 left before the Racers began to pull away. Murray State cut its 21-point lead to 16 after an AJ Ferguson 3-pointer with 14:26 left before a Braxton Meah dunk ended the run.
The teams traded baskets and NU led 57-38 with just over seven minutes to play before the Racers, who were shooting 48 percent from the field after halftime, put together one last point. MSU went on an 11-4 run to get within 61-49 on a Kylen Milton 3-pointer with 3:33 left, but would get no closer as a Wooster jumper and Essegian’s fifth 3-pointer of the night represented the final margin.
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