Connor Essegian’s 22 points led five players in double figures, as Nebraska went over the century mark in a 103-72 win over North Florida on Sunday afternoon.
Essegian went 8-of-10 from the field, including six 3-pointers, as Nebraska shot a season-high 58 percent from the field, including 11-of-24 from 3-point range.
Juwan Gary finished with 18 points and five rebounds, while Brice Williams (17), Andrew Morgan (13) and Ahron Ulis (10) all finished in double figures. Nebraska had 22 assists, including six by Williams, and just six turnovers while enjoying a 25-2 advantage on points off turnovers.
The Huskers took control early, using an 18-1 run behind Essegian, who had seven of his 13 first-half points in the spurt, as Nebraska built a 18-4 lead after an Morgan 3-point play capped a 15-0 Husker spurt.
The Ospreys were within 28-18 after a Jasai Miles 3-pointer, but Gary had five points in a 13-2 Husker run over the next four minutes to extend the lead to 21, at 41-20, and the Huskers kept that 21-point lead heading into the locker room. NU shot over 50 percent from both the field and 3-point line en route to taking a 53-32 halftime lead.
North Florida (5-3), which already upset Georgia Tech and South Carolina in the first month of the season, trimmed a 27-point deficit to 67-52 with 14:15 left after seven straight points from Seward, Neb., native Nate Lliteras, who finished with a game-high 17 points. That would be as close as they got, as the Huskers used a 7-0 run, capped by a Sam Hoiberg 3-pointer, to stretch the lead back to 22 with 11:26 left and the Huskers led by at least 19 the rest of the day.
UNF was held to a season-low 72 points despite going 14-of-43 from 3-point range, as the Ospreys ranked in the top two nationally in 3-pointers made and attempted this season.
The Huskers will open Big Ten Conference play against the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. (CT). The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network.