This post was updated Jan. 4 at 3:18 p.m.

Lincoln, Nebraska, is no easy place to play.

Each of the previous 19 teams that have entered Pinnacle Bank Arena has met the same fate – defeat.

And in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 15,000, Nebraska tied its program’s longest home winning streak at 20.

No. 15 UCLA men’s basketball (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) stumbled against Nebraska (12-2, 2-1), falling 66-58. The Bruins failed to find rhythm on the offensive end, posting 58 points and shooting 38.6% from the field, its second and third lowest marks of the season, respectively.

“Their (Nebraska’s) players did a great job on the defensive end,” said coach Mick Cronin. “They were the better defensive team today, and that’s why they won.”

After entering the halftime break at an even slate, a second-half spurt – one that saw a eight-point run – cemented the Cornhuskers’ advantage and powered them to their first victory over the Bruins since 1955.

In its third Big Ten matchup – and first in the Midwest – UCLA faltered, struggling mightily to hit shots from beyond the arc, going a season’s worst 4-for-28 from 3-point land.

“You can’t go 4-for-28 and have any chance to win against a team that stands people in the paint and dares you to shoot,” Cronin said. “That’s pretty much the game in a nutshell.”

Although the two programs are relatively unfamiliar to one another – last squaring off in 2016 when UCLA came out on top – a trio of Huskers are well-versed in Cronin’s schemes.

Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel spent his 2023-2024 campaign as a Bruin, while guard Rollie Worster and center Braxton Meah previously battled UCLA as members of former Pac-12 teams Utah and Washington, respectively.

Entering Saturday’s contest, the Bruins were without sophomore guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. after the team’s second leading scorer suffered a face injury against North Carolina. Compounding that loss, junior forward William Kyle III was also out with an undisclosed injury after undergoing surgery. 

But Cronin’s rotation was further tested as junior guard Skyy Clark was hit by a pair of screens, leaving him on the bench for the dying embers of the affair with a left shoulder injury.

Sebastian Mack earned his first starting nod of the season Saturday – in place of Dailey Jr. – and made his impact felt in all sectors of the court. The sophomore guard knocked in nine points while also notching three steals, six assists and three rebounds.

Stifling defenses and streaky shooting marred the first half for both squads. 

An initial 7-0 run by UCLA to start the game was quickly outdone by Nebraska’s 15-0 spurt. 

Dylan Andrews – who was held scoreless against Gonzaga and to just two points against North Carolina – continued to struggle.

“Dylan Andrews got to play way better,” Cronin said. “(He’s) not playing well.”

The junior guard only scored in the waning seconds against the Huskers, missing all four of his attempts from deep and turning the ball over four times.

It was junior forward Tyler Bilodeau’s 3-pointer that ultimately spurred the Bruins a 15-0 run of their own, featuring three triples.

UCLA’s defense forced nine first-half turnovers, keeping pace with the 18.2 it averages per game – the second-best mark in the nation.

In the second half, however, Cronin’s normally stout defense couldn’t keep up with the Huskers. Nebraska won the turnover margin by two and turned many of them into transition buckets.

“If you shoot the ball as poorly as we did, the only chance you have is to take care of the ball,” Cronin said. “You can’t give them 17 points off your turnovers.”

The Bruins contained guard Brice Williams – Nebraska’s leading scorer on the season – from the field, holding him to just 2-for-12. However, the fifth-year player took advantage of the Bruins’ fouling tendencies, getting to the line 12 times. 

Ultimately, Mack and senior guard Kobe Johnson finished the game on the bench, both fouling out as Nebraska’s parade to the free throw line sealed UCLA’s fate.