LAS VEGAS— Arizona State University (ASU) let a promising first half slip away, falling to Nebraska 86-78 in the opening round of the College Basketball Crown Tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Monday night.

The Sun Devils led 38-30 at the break, but a late 10-0 run by Nebraska in the final minutes proved too much to overcome. ASU struggled to respond, with the Cornhuskers closing out the game and advancing to the next round.

Brice Williams led Nebraska with 30 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and making key shots down the stretch. Alston Mason was ASU’s top performer, finishing with 23 points and four assists. The Sun Devils shot 46.4% from the field but were just 6-of-20 from beyond the arc.

One glaring issue for ASU was its lack of depth, particularly in the absence of Joson Sanon, the highly touted true freshman who recently transferred out of the program. His ability to create offense and provide defensive versatility was something the Sun Devils could have used, especially as they struggled with perimeter defense and transition play. Without him, ASU lacked the extra scoring punch needed to keep pace with Nebraska’s late-game surge.

Nebraska capitalized on turnovers, scoring 24 points off ASU’s 16 giveaways. The Sun Devils also struggled to contain Nebraska in the paint, giving up 44 points down low.

Despite leading by as many as 11, ASU couldn’t hold off Nebraska’s second-half push. The loss marks a disappointing end to their tournament hopes. The Sun Devils now turn their attention to the offseason, with roster decisions looming, including the recent addition of a former four-star recruit . Head coach Bobby Hurley will look to regroup as ASU prepares for another run next season.