LINCOLN, Neb. — Rienk Mast hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:51 left and finished with 19 points to lead No. 13 Nebraska to a 58-56 victory over No. 9 Michigan State on Friday night.
Fans rushed the court at the final buzzer as the Cornhuskers (14-0, 3-0 Big Ten) won their 18th straight game since last season, the longest active win streak in Division I and the longest in program history.
It was Nebraska’s first home win in an AP-ranked matchup since 1991 against Kansas.
Friday’s game was also the lowest-scoring game of the season for both teams. The game was hyped as a measuring stick for Nebraska, the only power-conference team to have never won an NCAA tournament game. The Huskers met the moment.
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What started as a slog quickly turned into a battle of bigs shooting 3-pointers. The 6-foot-10 Mast made five of his first seven from distance and finished 6-of-13. Michigan State’s 6-10 Jaxon Kohler made a career-high five on six attempts and finished with 19 points.
Pryce Sandfort had 13 points and Jamarques Lawrence added 12 for the Huskers. Jeremy Fears Jr. had 14 for the Spartans, and Kur Teng, who started in place of Divine Ugochukwu (illness), added 12.
Mast and Lawrence said after the game that they appreciated the fans’ support but didn’t think they needed to storm the court.
“We’re supposed to win that game, guys,” Lawrence said. “No more court storms, please. I just got to say that.”
Said Mast: “If you’re the No. 13 against the No. 9 and you’re at home, in my opinion, you’re supposed to win that game. I don’t blame the fans. They got excited for that win. From here on out, we’ve proven we belong in these games and we’re supposed to win these types of games.”
The Huskers are among six undefeated teams in Division I.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.