Nebraska guard Connor Essegian was struck in the back of the head, resulting in a chipped tooth, during the Cornhuskers’ 84-72 victory against New Mexico on Thursday night.
The incident occurred late in the first half, when Dayton Albury, one of New Mexico’s top scorers, targeted Essegian. Albury was subsequently assessed an aggravated foul 2 and ejected from the game.
“It appeared there was head contact. That’s what they called it,” commented New Mexico State coach Eric Ohlen after the match. He noted that losing Albury affected the team significantly, making it hard to finish the first half with their usual energy.
Despite this setback, Essegian contributed six points, seven rebounds, and one assist in 31 minutes, helping Nebraska extend their winning streak to nine games. He even shared a photo of his chipped tooth on social media afterward.
“That was a first for me,” Essegian joked, sharing a picture of the tooth fragment in his hand. He later poked fun at himself, noting that someone had even created a social media account named “Connor Essegian’s Tooth.”
After the game, Albury expressed regret for his actions, describing them as a “selfish decision.” He posted an apology but notably didn’t address Essegian directly.
Albury’s message emphasized his disappointment in failing to display the leadership his team needed, especially on national television. He accepted full responsibility for the incident, expressing a commitment to not let his team or community down again.
Nebraska has kicked off the season strong, now at 5-0, marking the longest winning streak in the nation since the previous season.
