The Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City ended in pure drama as Nebraska edged Kansas State 86-85 on Friday night, sealing the championship in the final second. The Huskers, now 6-0, proved they can win under pressure, even when the game spirals into chaos.
Sam Hoiberg was the hero, grabbing a rebound off a missed Pryce Sandfort three-pointer and drawing a foul with less than a second left. He calmly hit the first free throw to give Nebraska the lead, then intentionally missed the second to burn the clock.
Kansas State’s last-ditch full-court heave was knocked away, ending a wild finish that had fans on edge.
Nebraska had built a 15-point lead early thanks to disruptive defense, but Kansas State roared back in the second half, erasing a 10-point halftime deficit with an 11-0 run. From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth slugfest. Sandfort’s 21 points, including five three-pointers, kept the Huskers alive, while Rienk Mast added 20 and freshman Braden Frager chipped in 16. Frager’s fearless play earned him MVP honors of the four-team tournament.
Kansas State’s PJ Haggerty and Abdi Bashir Jr. nearly stole the show, scoring 27 and 26 points respectively. But the Wildcats faltered late, hitting just 2-of-10 shots to close the game.
Nebraska assistant Ernie Zeigler summed it up: “This was an NCAA Tournament type game. It’s great for us to experience this now so hopefully we can lean back on it in March.”
The Huskers, who struggled from deep (8-of-32) but dominated inside with 48 points in the paint, showed they can win in different ways. Head coach Fred Hoiberg reminded his players to savor the moment: “It’s not often you win championships.” Then, in classic fashion, he doused them with water after telling them not to do the same to him.
Nebraska’s undefeated run continues, and with this dramatic victory, the Huskers have announced themselves as a team built for March-style madness long before the tournament begins.