Connor Essegian’s career-high 29 points off the bench led the Nebraska Cornhuskers to a 96-79 victory over South Dakota in a nonconference game on Wednesday night. Essegian, a junior guard who transferred from Wisconsin, shot 10-of-22 from the field and made 6-of-15 three-point attempts. The Cornhuskers, now 5-1, also had a strong performance from Brice Williams, who added 21 points with 15 in the first half.
Despite playing most of the game without senior forward Juwan Gary and fellow starter Berke Buyuktuncel due to injuries, Nebraska managed to maintain a lead throughout the game. South Dakota, with 20 points from Chase Forte and 16 from Quandre Bullock, made several comeback attempts but were unable to close the gap.
Nebraska had a 19-point lead at halftime, fueled by impressive three-point shooting and Essegian’s scoring. South Dakota cut the deficit to 12 at one point, but Nebraska’s strong performance from beyond the arc and ball control helped secure the win. The game marked Nebraska’s highest point total in almost four years.
Next, South Dakota will face Idaho State at home on Dec. 4, while Nebraska will host North Florida on Sunday. Essegian’s standout performance and Nebraska’s sharp shooting will be key factors to watch in their upcoming matchups.
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