Nebraska Basketball Wins First NCAA Tournament Game Ever

For 129 years, Nebraska basketball fans had waited for this moment, and when it finally came, it wasn't even close.

The Huskers demolished Troy 76-47 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, securing the program's first tournament win after going 0-8 in previous attempts. The victory didn't just end a drought. It shattered a ceiling that had hung over Nebraska basketball since the tournament's early days.

Junior Pryce Sandfort lit up the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, draining seven three-pointers on his way to 23 points. His hot shooting sparked a 20-4 run in the first half that turned a tight game into a blowout.

Troy's shooters started strong, building a 15-12 lead early. But once Sandfort got going, the momentum shifted completely. Nebraska took a 41-25 lead into halftime and never looked back.

The second half belonged entirely to the Huskers. Sandfort hit his sixth three-pointer to ignite another run, and before long, Nebraska led by 30 points. Jamarques Lawrence added 13 points, reaching 1,000 for his career in the process.

The win gives Nebraska 27 victories this season, breaking the school record of 26 set by the 1990-91 team. Head coach Fred Hoiberg, who won four tournament games during his time at Iowa State, picked up his fifth NCAA Tournament victory overall.

The Ripple Effect

This victory means more than one game in March. Nebraska's basketball program has lived in the shadow of the football team for over a century, struggling to find its identity and relevance.

Now, with their first tournament win and a school-record 27 victories, the Huskers have proven they belong on college basketball's biggest stage. The sellout crowd in Oklahoma City created a sea of red that rivaled any home game, showing how hungry Nebraska fans were for this breakthrough.

The win also validates the program's recent momentum. Nebraska has now won five straight postseason games dating back to the College Basketball Crown earlier this season and 11 of their last 12 neutral-site contests.

Nebraska faces either Vanderbilt or McNeese in the second round on Saturday, carrying confidence and history into a game that once seemed impossible to reach.