Creighton University
Sioux Falls (Ex.)
Air Raid Lifts Men's Basketball Past Sioux Falls 91-72
11/7/2014 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. - Keyed by 11 first half three-pointers the Creighton men's basketball team downed Sioux Falls, 91-72, on Friday, Nov. 7 in the lone public exhibiton game of the winter.
The Bluejays opened the night red hot from beyond the arc, hitting five of their first six three pointers to build a 19-5 advantage in the first eight minutes of play, including three treys by freshman Toby Hegner. The three-point barrage continued as Creighton pushed its lead to as much as 21 points with 7:05 remaining at 37-16.
Senior Austin Chatman led the way in the opening period with 12 of his game-high 18 points in the first 20 minutes of play. Creighton closed the half 11-of-20 (55.0 %) from three-point range to take a 50-30 edge into the locker room.
Sioux Falls inched to within 17 at 53-36 (17:48) in the opening moments of the second half, but the Bluejays responded with a 12-4 run over the ensuing three minutes to build a 65-40 edge. Five different Bluejays contributed to the burst, led by four points from Isaiah Zierden.
Creighton went on to lead by as much as 27 points following a three-point play by Devin Brooks at 73-46 with 11:39 left.
Brooks and Chatman each finished with a team-high 18 points in the game, while Zierden and James Milliken also reached double-digits with 11 points each.
Sioux Falls got an impressive 30-point performance from Charles Ward, including six treys in the second half, to lead the Cougars.
Creighton won the battle of the boards, 39-33, and closed the game 14-of-31 (45.2 %) from beyond the arc.
The Bluejays open the regular season on Nov. 14 as Creighton hosts Central Arkansas at 8 pm.
NOTES: Creighton never trailed in the win ... The attendance of 16,317 set a new Creighton high for an exhibition contest ... Head coach Greg McDermott remained undefeated in exhibition contests as a Division I coach, moving to 22-0 ...Gabriel Connealy got a huge cheer in the final minute when he banked in a jumper for his first career points. Connealy had been a manager the previous three seasons before earning a spot on the team this winter ... Creighton has won 14 straight exhibition games dating to a 2003 loss ... Sioux Falls went 15-12 last year as a Division II team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference ... Creighton led the nation in 2013-14 in three-point percentage ((.414) and three-pointers made (356) ... Tonight marked the third time in Creighton's last 18 games that the Bluejays have made 11 or more three-pointers by halftime.
