Nebraska pulls out OT win over Madrid All-Stars in first Spain exhibition
The Nebraska basketball team tipped off the first of three games during its 11-day team trip in Spain on Monday.
Despite a roster depleted by injuries and player schedule conflicts, the Huskers pulled out an 89-84 overtime win over the Madrid All-Stars at the Canal de Isabel II Sports Centre.
Junior guard Brice Williams led NU with a team-high 28 points, with 17 coming in the first half. After trailing 48-42 at the break, a late free throw by walk-on Cale Jacobson sent the game to OT tied at 82-82.
Nebraska out-scored Madrid 7-2 in the extra period, which included three more points from Williams. The Charlotte transfer added five rebounds and four assists in his first live competition as a Husker.
“Brice, obviously, really had it going,” head coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Brice can really score the ball, and he showed his versatility as a three-level scorer. He had some really good takes to the basket where he was very athletic with his ability to finish… He showed his offensive package and versatility today.”
Junior guard C.J. Wilcher posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamarques Lawrence followed up with 14 points. The Huskers only shot 9-of-36 from 3-point range, but Hoiberg said his team made up for a “rusty” start with solid play down the stretch.
Nebraska finished with 17 assists and 16 turnovers, and Hoiberg said his squad had “a lot to clean up” on the trip and through the rest of the offseason.
“That’s what this trip is all about is to help up with situations like that,” Hoiberg said.
Ulis will not play in Spain
Nebraska was already shorthanded enough for its games in Spain. Then Hoiberg announced that point guard Ahron Ulis did not play on Monday and would not be available for the remaining two contests.
Hoiberg did not give any specifics on why the junior transfer from Iowa was being held out other than he was dealing with “a situation.”
“Right now, we’re gathering information on a situation that Aaron is dealing with, and right now, that’s all I can say about the matter,” Hoiberg said.
Hoiberg was asked for further details but declined to comment.
Jacobsen shined in crunch time
Nebraska’s official roster lists Jacobsen at 6-foot-4, 194 pounds. With essentially their entire frontcourt out, the Huskers started him at center on Monday.
After Lawrence had to leave the game late with cramping, the redshirt freshman walk-on from Ashland took over as NU’s lead point guard.
Nebraska’s available lineup in Spain is slim (see below), but Jacobsen’s performance was still noteworthy.
Hoiberg said the former Ashland-Greenwood standout made huge plays down the stretch. He took a late charge and then hit the tying free throw (banked it in, actually) to send it to overtime.
Later in OT, Jacobsen hit a 3-pointer to make it a five-point game in the final minutes.
It’s hard to say precisely where he will fit in once the Huskers have their full complement of players, but performances like Monday will keep Jacobsen in the discussion for this season’s in-game rotation.
“I was really happy with Cale,” Hoiberg said. “He was as important as anybody on the floor for us as the end of the game… He just has a great understanding for what we’re trying to do, and he took full advantage tonight.
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“Not only with the shots at the end, but the big charge he drew and the big rebound he got at the end. I’m really happy for Cale because I know how much work he’s put into this, especially his redshirt year. Absolutely, he has a chance to be out on the floor for us this year.”
Huskers are shorthanded in Spain
Nebraska entered the game without at least five players from its projected game rotation. Then Ulis was scratched from the lineup for the remainder of the trip.
Guard Keisei Tominaga (Japan) and center Rienk Mast (Netherlands) are representing their countries at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Forward Josiah Allick and center Blaise Keita are out as they finish up their recoveries from offseason ankle surgery.
Nebraska’s trainers recently cleared forward Juwan Gary for full on-court work as he wraps up his offseason shoulder surgery recovery. Hoiberg expected the fifth-year junior would play some limited minutes in Spain.
Gary played nine minutes off the bench on Monday. As long as his surgically repaired shoulder doesn’t experience any setbacks, Hoiberg said the junior would likely start in NU’s next game on Wednesday.
The Huskers are also without walk-on guard Sam Hoiberg, who has been dealing with a knee issue this summer.
New 2023 commit Matar Diop did not make the trip. Add in the one remaining open scholarship for 2023-24, and NU arrived in Spain with five available scholarship players.
Up next
Nebraska will return to the court on Wednesday against the Valencia All-Stars in Valencia. That game will tip at noon CT (7 p.m. local time) at the Alqueria del Baset.
On Saturday, the Huskers’ third game will be in Barcelona vs. the Cataluna All-Stars. That is set for an 11:30 a.m. CT (6:30 p.m. local) start at Paraque Deportivo Llobregat.
None of the remaining games will be streamed. Huskers.com and the Nebraska basketball social media accounts will provide updates throughout the trip.
