Nebraska men’s basketball opened its exhibition schedule with a 79-74 loss to Saint Louis at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday, October 9, 2026. Despite a dazzling debut from freshman guard Jacob Lanier, the Huskers struggled to contain Saint Louis from beyond the arc and fell behind in the battle for rebounds.
The matchup brought together two teams coming off standout 2025-26 campaigns. Nebraska entered the exhibition carrying the momentum of a school-record 28-win season and a historic run to the Sweet 16. Saint Louis arrived in Lincoln under third-year head coach John Schertz after making its own appearance in the NCAA Tournament last spring. The game marked the beginning of a two-year preseason exhibition agreement between the programs, with a return trip to Saint Louis slated for the 2027-28 season. Fans watched the action unfold through a B1G+ Free Friday simulcast initiative streamed live on YouTube without requiring a paid subscription.
Fred Hoiberg Tests Rotations in Exhibition Game
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg made it clear that the exhibition would serve primarily as a laboratory.
Hoiberg turned heavily to his bench to test combinations and build a rotation. Thirteen different players saw the floor for Nebraska, with minutes carefully managed.
Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska head coach
“We’re really going to treat this, especially these first couple, more like an NBA preseason, where I need to figure out my rotation, and this gives a great opportunity to get out against a really good opponent.”
Sandfort and Frager logged just over 20 minutes each—with Sandfort playing 22 minutes and 42 seconds and Frager logging an even 21 minutes—while Jacobsen anchored the floor with a team-high seven rebounds.
Jacob Lanier Shines in Freshman Debut
The brightest spot of the night for the home side belonged to true freshman Jacob Lanier. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound guard from Parkview Magnet High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and former four-star recruit in the 2026 class displayed the skillset that made him an addition.
Playing just five minutes in the first half, Lanier erupted for nine points.
Lanier’s early scoring burst signaled that the newcomer will be trusted to handle a rotational role during his first collegiate campaign.
Billikens Take Over with Pressure and Shooting
Nebraska struggled to match the physical intensity and sharp-shooting of the visiting Billikens. Saint Louis weaponized its ball pressure to disrupt Husker ball handlers and force hurried decisions under head coach John Schertz.
Rebounding proved to be a decisive battleground. In the first half alone, Saint Louis secured 53 percent of its missed shots, pulling down nine offensive boards before intermission and finishing the night with 13 offensive rebounds.
Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska head coach
“The disappointing thing to me was I thought they out-toughed us.”
The Billikens also controlled the game from beyond the arc and in transition, translating fast breaks into 13 points while Nebraska managed zero fast-break points.
Leo Curtis Provides Clean Offense Off the Bench
Another development for Nebraska came from the frontcourt, where 7-foot-2 forward Leo Curtis delivered a shooting performance. Curtis committed to the Big Red as a prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, eventually appearing in 17 games last spring including nine conference contests and two NCAA Tournament games.
The Huskers return to the practice floor to address defensive connectivity and rebounding before continuing their preseason slate on the road against BYU on Friday, October 16, followed by a neutral-site exhibition against Kansas State on Monday, October 26, in Grand Island, Nebraska.