Creighton University
Drake
Second Half Surge Propels Bulldogs Past Men's Basketball, 74-62
1/24/2009 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Drake snapped a three-game losing streak with a 74-62 win at Creighton on Saturday afternoon before 17,193 fans at Qwest Center Omaha.
The Bulldogs improved to 14-7 overall and 5-4 in the MVC, while Creighton dropped to 15-6 overall and is also 5-4 in Valley action. It was Drake's fourth straight win against Creighton in a series that dates back to 1917.
Creighton took a 35-29 lead into the locker room thanks to a 7-0 run in the final 80 seconds of the first half. Kenny Lawson Jr. scored from point-blank range off a feed from P'Allen Stinnett. After a pair of missed free throws by Drake's Josh Parker, Cavel Witter hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to push CU's lead to four. The Jays then got a stop when Josh Young missed from the wing and Justin Carter tipped the rebound to Stinnett, who barely beat the halftime buzzer as CU's took a six-point edge into the half.
Drake steadily pulled away from Creighton after half, using a 21-6 run to turn a 43-37 deficit into a 58-49 lead with eight minutes to play. While Creighton continued to misfire from three-point range in the second half, Drake would move its lead to double-figures for the first time with 2:56 left on Young's long two-pointer from the top of the key. The Bulldogs would eventually lead by as much as 14 points in its win.
Craig Stanley had 16 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and six assists to pace the Bulldogs. Preseason all-Valley pick Young also scored 16 despite uncharacteristically making only 5-of-11 at the line. John Michael Hall scored a career-best 15 points off the bench, while Jonathan Cox also had a double-double with 14 poitns and 13 rebounds. Drake improved to 10-0 this year when outrebounding its opponent, cleaning the glass to a 48-35 advantage.
Creighton had three men finish in double-figures, topped by 15 points each from Stinnett and Woodfox and 13 from Cavel Witter off the bench. CU shot a season-low 30 percent from the floor (21-70), including 9-of-40 (22.5 percent) in the second half. CU finished 10-of-33 from three-point range (30.3 percent), launching 21 three-pointers in the final 20 minutes. Casey Harriman led the Bluejays on the backboards with seven rebounds off the bench. The Jays had a season-low seven turnovers.
Creighton returns to action on Tuesday at 7:05 pm when it hosts Indiana State. The game can be heard on KXSP (Big Sports 590 AM) and will be televised on NET-2.
