 C.J. Wilcher came off the bench to score 13 points and Rienk Mast added his second straight double-double as Nebraska turned away Rider 64-50 in the opener of the Cornhusker Classic on Monday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
Wilcher made 4 of 8 shots with three 3-pointers for Nebraska (3-0), adding five rebounds. Mast finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Josiah Allick added 10 points and six boards.
Corey McKeithan scored 18 to lead Rider (1-2), the preseason pick to win the MAAC. McKeithan sank 6 of 14 shots with two 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds. Mervin James pitched in with 10 points and five boards.
Allick had a dunk in the middle of four made free throws by Brice Williams as Nebraska grabbed a 23-17 lead with 6:26 left in the first half and the Cornhuskers led the rest of the way.
Mast had 20 point and 16 rebounds in an 81-54 victory over Florida A&M last time out.
Stony Brook and Duquesne are the other participants in the round-robin Classic. The Huskers play Stony Brook on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CT) and Duquesne a week later.
Duquesne beat Stony Brook Monday night at home in Pittsburgh and hosts Rider on Friday. Stony Brook hosts Rider next Monday. Â