St. Louis University began its basketball preseason with a 79-74 exhibition win at Nebraska on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. The result gave SLU an early road victory and a useful first step before the games start to count for real.
The final score tells the basic story: a competitive game, decided by five points, with SLU doing enough to leave Lincoln with the win. For Nebraska, it was a useful test in front of its own fans, but the night belonged to the visitors.
Husker Score: a preseason result that matters
In exhibition basketball, the score matters less than the lessons, but this was still a positive opening for St. Louis University. Beating Nebraska away from home is the kind of early-season result that gives a team confidence, especially when the margin is tight and the setting is on the road.
The game was part of SLU's preseason preparation, and the 79-74 finish offered an immediate measure of where the group stands. It was also the first chance for the program to see how it handled an unfamiliar environment at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Schertz and Thames speak after the win
After the exhibition, Kellen Thames and Josh Schertz spoke with the media via Zoom. Schertz, who coaches St. Louis University, had the benefit of an opening road win to discuss, while Thames was among the voices reflecting on the performance.
With preseason basketball, the most important thing is often how a team responds to the first challenge. On this occasion, SLU responded well enough to leave Nebraska with a 79-74 victory and an encouraging start to October.
