Creighton University
Evansville
Men's Basketball Trumps Purple Aces, 77-59
1/9/2008 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton used an 14-0 run to start the second half and break open a tight game while cruising to a 77-59 win over Evansville on Wednesday night. The Bluejays never trailed while evening their league record to 2-2 and overall mark to 11-3. UE dropped to 5-9 overall and is 0-4 in the MVC.
Creighton's defense forced 19 turnovers (which were turned into 25 points) and blocked a season-high nine shots. The Jays also had a dozen steals, including five from Josh Dotzler.
Creighton scored the game's first seven points and owned a 10-2 lead after six minutes. It was a 180 degree turnaround from CU's last home game, a Dec. 29, 2007 setback to Illinois State in which CU never led. Though the Jays remained in control, it was never able to pull away from UE in the first half. A putback by Dane Watts in the closing seconds of the first half gave the Jays a 35-29 lead at intermission.
The hosts started the second half in fine fashion, scoring the first 14 points after the break to build a 49-29 lead. The run began with a basket by Kenny Lawson Jr. and was followed by a pair of three-pointers by Nick Bahe and one trey each from Dane Watts and P'Allen Stinnett. CU's lead never dipped below 14 the rest of the way.
Stinnett had 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes off the bench to lead the team in scoring, while Watts had 11 points and eight rebounds in his 100th consecutive start. CU shot 42.1 percent and hit eight three-pointers on the night. Joining the blocked shot brigade was three each by Lawson and Kenton Walker, and one apiece by Josh Dotzler, Pierce Hibma and Chad Millard.
UE was paced by 13 points off the bench from Darin Granger. The Purple Aces shot 38.1 percent for the game. UE did own a slight 41-39 rebounding edge, paced by 11 from Clint Hopf. Hopf played 20 minutes as starting big man Pieter van Tongeren fouled out in 11 minutes.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday with a 7:05 pm game at Wichita State. The game can be heard on KXSP (Big Sports 590 AM) and will be televised locally on Cox 2.
NOTES: The win was Dana Altman's 150th in regular-season MVC play ...Dane Watts made his 100th consecutive start ...Creighton is now 14-0 at Qwest Center Omaha on Wednesday's ...Creighton avoided back-to-back home league losses for the first time since 1999 ...Creighton's bench once again outscored the starting five, 47-30 ...Creighton's only starter to take a shot in the first 12:37 of the game was Kenny Lawson Jr., who took just two shots in that span.
