Creighton University
Nebraska-Omaha (Ex.)
Men's Hoops Takes Down UNO, 93-77, In Final Tune-up
11/8/2009 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Kenny Lawson Jr. scored 20 points and Antoine Young had nine points and nine assists as Creighton overcame an early 10-point deficit to post a 93-77 exhibition victory over Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday.
UNO led most of the first half thanks to the torrid shooting of Nebraska-Kearney transfer Jeff Martin. Martin hit his first five three-point attempts as UNO built a 33-23 lead in the opening 12-plus minutes. The remainder of the half would be all Jays though, as a Young three-ball started a 13-0 run that saw CU took the lead and never relent from there. CU would score on 9-of-10 possessions down the stretch, including a pair of three-point baskets by walk-on Matt Dorwart, to take a 52-44 halftime lead.
Creighton's lead hovered between six and 17 points after the intermission. The Mavs would use a 7-0 spurt to close within 77-69 with eight minutes to play, but CU answered with nine straight points to put the game out of reach.
Lawson made 8-fo-11 shots from the floor and had 20 points in addition to a team-best seven rebounds. Sharing the rebounding lead was Wayne Runnels, who scored 12 points to go with his seven boards. P'Allen Stinnett rounded out CU's double-figure trio with 12 points, adding six rebounds, one steal and an emphatic blocked shot. Young had nine points, nine assists and three steals in 22 minutes without a turnover.
Creighton made 55.4 percent from the floor (36-65), but just 30.8 percent from three-point territory (8-26). The Jays also hit 13-of-22 from the line (59.1 percent). Creighton outrebounded UNO 39-27 for the game, including a 21-5 advantage in second-chance points.
UNO was paced by Martin, who scored 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting for the game. Andrew Bridger had 16 points, five assists and four rebounds. The Mavericks shot 46 percent from the floor (23-50), 9-of-16 from downtown (56.3 percent) and 22-of-32 at the line (68.8 percent).
Creighton will open the regular season next Saturday with a 12:05 pm (Central) game at No. 21 Dayton. That game can be heard on Big Sports 590 (590 AM) and the WHIO television feed will be carried locally on Cox 2.
NOTES: Creighton has won nine straight exhibition games in Omaha ...Creighton is 6-0 vs. UNO this decade in exhibition games ...Kenny Lawson's career high for a regular-season game is 16 points ...Creighton outscored UNO 41-14 off the bench and 48-26 in the paint.
