Nebraska Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over New Mexico in Hall of Fame Classic

Kansas City, MO — Nebraska‘s men’s basketball team secured an 84-72 victory over New Mexico on Thursday at the Hall of Fame Classic. The Huskers stormed out of the gate, establishing an early lead and holding on through a challenging second half.

Lawrence had a standout performance, scoring a career-high 21 points from the field, hitting six of nine attempts, including four 3-pointers. His contributions, along with Frager’s 20 points off the bench, paved the way for Nebraska’s ninth consecutive win, dating back to last season.

The game began with Nebraska quickly establishing an 11-2 lead within three minutes. The Huskers were efficient, hitting nine of their first 13 shots and building a substantial 22-5 advantage, which included two back-to-back three-pointers. Capping off a strong first half, Nebraska maintained a 43-25 lead by halftime after shooting 52 percent.

In the second half, New Mexico responded vigorously, narrowing the gap from an 18-point deficit to just four points at 51-47, with Haupt hitting a pivotal three-pointer. But Nebraska regained momentum thanks to a driving basket from a key player, followed by a 3-pointer that extended the lead to 66-53 with less than seven minutes left.

Despite New Mexico’s efforts to close the gap, including a three-pointer from Hall that brought the score to 66-58, the Huskers responded, pushing their lead back to 13 points with under three minutes remaining. Hall led New Mexico with 20 points despite the loss, as the Lobos finished shooting only 39 percent from the field.

This victory marked Nebraska’s first win over New Mexico in their history as they improve to 1-1 all-time against the Lobos. With the win, Nebraska advances to the championship game against Kansas State, who defeated Mississippi State 98-77. The title game is scheduled for Friday night at 8:30 p.m., with coverage available on Peacock and the Huskers Sports Network.