Creighton University
Saskatchewan (Ex.)
Basketball Opens Exhibition Tour With Win Over Saskatchewan
9/1/2007 5:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CALGARY, Alberta -- Kenny Lawson Jr. and Dane Watts scored 20 points apiece to lead the Creighton men's basketball team past Saskatchewan, 87-82, in the first of five exhibtion games scheduled over Labor Day Weekend in Calgary.
Creighton played 13 of its 14 players on the trip, including eight players making their debut at the school. Creighton's starting five, which consisted of Josh Dotzler, Pierce Hibma, Nick Bahe, Lawson and Watts were its five veterans, while eight newcomers came off the bench to help CU own a 39-14 lead in bench points.
Besides Lawson and Watts, freshman P'Allen Stinnett had nine points in 18 minutes while fellow newcomer Booker Woodfox had six points and a pair of steals. Creighton used a 17-2 margin on the offensive glass to own an 18-0 advantage on second chance points. The Jays also won the turnover battle by a convincing 31-9 differential.
Saskatchewan was led by 21 points and eight rebounds from Andrew Spagrud, while Kyle Grant hit 5-of-6 three-pointers to net 20 points. Saskatchewan shot 54 percent from the field, including 62.5 percent from downtown, and shot 37 free throws in the game thanks to a 34-19 foul discrepancy. The Huskies went 13-9 last year and returned all five starters from its division champion squad.
The Bluejays return to action later tonight with an 8 pm (Central) game against host Calgary. Creighton is making its first trip to Canada since November of 2003.
