Collin Chandler scored a game-high 19 points to lead BYU to a 72-61 exhibition victory over Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, at the Marriott Center in Provo. A decisive 19-10 run to open the second half allowed the Cougars to overcome a slow first-half start and secure the win before a crowd of 15,864 fans.
Second Half Surge
The Cougars' offensive surge in the second half was driven by a barrage of long-range shooting. After struggling from deep in the first half, where the team shot only 3-for-19 from three-point range, BYU knocked down five three-pointers in the first five and a half minutes of the second half to take a 47-42 lead.
Maintaining the Lead
This scoring burst, which included shots from Robert Wright III, Chandler, Bruce Branch III, and Jaxon Kohler, allowed BYU to reclaim a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. While Nebraska attempted to chip away at the deficit through the efforts of freshman Jacob Lanier—who scored 11 points, including three three-pointers in the second half—BYU responded with consistent scoring to maintain the advantage.
Kohler's Double-Double
Jaxon Kohler, an American Fork native, anchored the Cougars' interior performance by recording a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Kohler's scoring came exclusively during the second half after he picked up two fouls within the first eight minutes of the game. His performance included four offensive rebounds.
Coaching Perspective
BYU's victory was marked by high-efficiency play in the second half, characterized by ball movement that resulted in 12 assists during that period alone. Head coach Kevin Young noted that the team's ability to move the ball effectively allowed them to break down Nebraska's defensive rotations. The Cougars also leveraged Nebraska's mistakes, turning 18 turnovers into 21 points.
First Half Defensive Struggle
The first half was a more defensive, lower-scoring affair that saw Nebraska leading 32-28 at the intermission. The Huskers' defense initially held BYU to 34 percent shooting. Nebraska saw scoring contributions from Braden Frager, who led the team with eight points and seven rebounds, and Cale Jacobsen, who finished with 15 points and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Key Contributor Stats
Individual performances for the Cougars included 17 points and seven assists from Robert Wright III, and 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists from Bruce Branch III, who made his unofficial collegiate debut. Freshman Brooks Bahr also contributed to the scoring with a layup through a foul.
Looking Ahead
The Cougars' win served as redemption for a previous exhibition loss to the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Nebraska. Following this matchup, BYU is scheduled to visit UNLV in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 24, to conclude their exhibition schedule.
