The BYU men's basketball team earned a 72-61 exhibition victory over Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at the Marriott Center. While the first half remained relatively stagnant, a productive second half propelled the Cougars to the win in front of 15,864 fans.
Nebraska held a 32-28 lead at halftime, aided by the Cougars' struggles from the three-point line where they were 3 of 19. However, BYU opened the second half with seven consecutive points, starting with a Jaxon Kohler layup and Collin Chandler free throws. The Cougars then took a 35-32 lead and maintained control for the remainder of the game.
Collin Chandler led the Cougars with 19 points, while newcomer Jaxon Kohler recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Robert Wright III contributed 17 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, and freshman Bruce Branch III added 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. BYU finished the game 10 of 36 from beyond the arc and outscored Nebraska 30-19 in the paint.
BYU head coach Kevin Young noted that the team's second-half performance, which included 12 assists and 7 of 17 shooting from three-point range, reflected the team's desired identity. Young also credited the defensive effort for forcing 18 Nebraska turnovers and holding the Huskers to 61 points.
Nebraska's Cale Jacobson scored 15 points, while freshman Jacob Lanier contributed 11 points. The Huskers shot 42% from the three-point line during the contest.
The Cougars are scheduled to travel to Nevada next Saturday for a final exhibition game against UNLV.
