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BYU guard Collin Chandler dribbles the ball against Nebraska in a men's college basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU forward Bruce Branch III looks for a teammate against Nebraska in a men's college basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU center Jaxon Kohler takes a shot against Nebraska in a men's college basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU guard Robert Wright III dribbles against Nebraska in a men's college basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU forward Tyler Betsey passes the ball against Nebraska in a men's college basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU guard Collin Chandler attempts a shot against Nebraska in a men's college basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU forward Dean Rueckert looks to pass against Nebraska in a men's college basketball exhibition game at the Marriott Center on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

❮ ❯

In the second half, Chandler returned the favor to Branch as an exclamation point in a victory.

“The young’un was making veteran lobs,” Chandler said after the game. “I had to get him back.”

Chandler scored 19 points and another newcomer, Jaxon Kohler, added a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) as the Cougars scored a 72-61 victory against the Huskers in front of 15,864 at the Marriott Center.

Friday night was taxing on the ROC (Roar of Cougars), which not only showed up for the first look at the BYU men’s basketball team but was also out in force at BYU’s 3-2 upset of No. 8 Texas Tech in women’s soccer at South Field AND camping out in front of Heritage Halls to get ready for ESPN College GameDay before Saturday’s BYU-Notre Dame football game.

“The fans showed up today,” Chandler said. “It was awesome.”

The Cougars struggled from 3-point range in the first half, missing 9 of its first 10 triples and finishing the half 3 of 19 (16%). BYU stayed close with defense and rebounding, and after a Nebraska turnover Branch threw a perfect lob on the break to Chandler, who cradled the ball in one hand before throwing it down for a 21-19 lead.

Nebraska led 32-28 at halftime but the Cougars scored seven straight points to open the second, getting started with a layup from Kohler and a couple of free throws from Chandler. Branch’s offensive rebound turned into a 3-pointer for Chandler and BYU led 35-32. The Cougars remained in front the rest of the game.

“I thought in the first half they (Nebraska) did a really good job of rotating on the first drive,” BYU head coach Kevin Young said. “In the second half we started breaking them down a little bit more on the second drive and the extra pass. We have a dynamic shooting team so if the ball can move … We go 7 of 17 (from the 3-point line) and 12 assists just in the second half. When we’re playing like that, that’s what we want our identity to look like.”

Chandler’s triple started a run of four straight makes from beyond the arc for BYU (one from Kohler and two from Rob Wright III) for a 44-37 advantage with 15:15 remaining. The Huskers climbed to within four points, 65-61, with two minutes to play on a basket by Leo Curtis. Branch responded with a 3-pointer and Wright drove in for two and the Cougars led 70-61.

Moments later Chandler nabbed a steal, then threw an alley-oop to Branch for the emphatic two-handed flush to end it.

“One of the reasons Collin wanted to come here was because he felt like we could open his game up a little bit more,” Young said. “I thought for the most part that was on display tonight.”

Wright was just 6 of 16 from the field but scored 17 points and also contributed seven assists and five rebounds. Branch had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists for BYU, which finished 10 of 36 (28%) from the 3-point line but outrebounded Nebraska 39-35 and outscored the visitors 30-19 in the paint.

Nebraska, which beat BYU in an exhibition game in Lincoln last season and eventually advanced to the Sweet 16, was 10 of 24 (42%) from the 3-point line. Cale Jacobson paced the Huskers with 15 points and freshman Jacob Lanier scored all 11 of his points in the second half.

BYU travels to Nevada next Saturday for a final exhibition game against UNLV.

“I never take anything for granted,” Young said. “I do think this team will be able to put points on the board, but I’m really keyed in on our defense right now. That team we played (Nebraska) is really good. Fred (Hoiberg) is one of the best offensive coaches in college basketball, and a great dude. To turn that team over 18 times and to hold them to 61 points, that’s impressive.”