Courtesy of Connoisseur Media Lincoln.LOS ANGELES–(NU Athletics Feb. 28)–Pryce Sandfort had a game-high 32 points to lead three Huskers in double figure, as No. 12 Nebraska dominated the second half in an 82-67 win over USC Saturday afternoon. Sandfort had 20 of his 32 points after halftime, as Nebraska (25-4, 14-4 Big Ten) overcame a 37-31 halftime deficit by shooting 53 percent in the second half and holding USC to 39 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes. Braden Frager had 17 points and eight rebounds while Rienk Mast added 11 points and six boards, as Nebraska enjoyed a 41-25 advantage on the glass, including 18 offensive boards. Nebraska opened the half with a 12-2 run over the first 3:02, taking the lead for good on Sandfort’s four-point play with 18:22 left before Berke Buyuktuncel’s dunk put the Huskers ahead 43-38. In all, NU held the Trojans to two field goals over the first seven-plus minutes as the Huskers extended the lead to 51-42 after basket from Mast and Frager. USC pulled to within 51-46 after a pair of Alijah Arenas baskets before Nebraska used a 15-0 surge over the next 4:24 to put the game away and extend the margin to 66-46 after five straight points from Sandfort, who posted his third 30-point game of the season. Arenas and Chad Baker-Mazara had 14 points apiece for USC (18-11, 7-11 Big Ten), who lost their fourth straight game. USC took a 36-31 lead into the locker room as the Trojans shot 52 percent from the field while Nebraska shot just 35 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Nebraska got off to a strong start, running off eight straight points to take a 13-8 lead on Sam Hoiberg 3-pointer at the 13:57 mark of the half and led 15-10 when Hoiberg picked up his second foul on Ezra Ausar’s basket at the 11:40 mark and sat for the rest of the half. NU extended its lead to 17-13 on a Pryce Sandfort basket with 10:46 left in the half, but USC responded with an 11-3 run, including a pair of 3-pointers from Jaden Brownell to take a 24-20 lead after a 3-pointer from Baker Mazara. Brownell gave USC eight first-half points off the bench. USC built its largest lead of the half at 36-29 after two straight Jerry Easter II baskets before a Sandfort basket cut the deficit to six at the break. Sandfort led NU with 12 first-half points, while Baker Mazara had all 14 of his points before halftime. The Huskers will continue their West Coast swing on Tuesday night, as Nebraska takes on UCLA. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. (central) and the game will be carried on FS1. ...read more read less