Creighton University
7-2
Nebraska
5-2
Blue State! Men's Basketball Rallies To Win at Nebraska
12/7/2014 8:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton's win was its fourth in a row in the series, all by double-figures, and 13th in the last 16 regular-season meetings over its I-80 rival.
Nebraska led for all but a minute of the first half, taking advantage off an 11-0 edge in points off turnovers. Terran Petteway scored early and often to begin the game, scoring 12 of NU's first 18 points. The Huskers took their largest lead at 24-14 with 5:23 left in the half before the Jays countered with a 13-2 run to take their only lead of the half. Avery Dingman drained a three-pointer to tie the score at 24-all, and after a Moses Abraham tip-in, CU took its lone lead (27-26) on Rick Kreklow's second trey in the final four minutes of the half. Petteway would hold the ball for the final shot and sink a basket with less than five seconds left to give NU the 28-27 lead.
Held scoreless in the first half, Nebraska turned to Shavon Shields to get untracked. Shields scored four quick points to help NU to a 34-29 lead, only to see CU rally once again. Three-pointers by Austin Chatman, Kreklow and Isaiah Zierden gave the Bluejays a 42-39 lead with 12:24 to play and force a Cornhusker timeout.
The Bluejay lead reached 44-39 a minute later when Will Artino putback his own miss. After a score by Rivers, Petteway brought fans to feet with thrunderous dunk off a missed free throw from Rivers to trim the Bluejay lead to 44-43 with 9:33 left.
The teams traded three-pointers to put CU up 51-47 with 6:35 to play, only to see another Petteway slam ignite the crowd and draw NU within two points. But Zierden hit his third trey of the half to give CU a 54-49 lead with 4:20 left.
Creighton's lead reached seven when Will Artino scored on an up-and-under move with 2:51 to play. Nebraska scored the next four points to get within three, only to see Chatman answer to give CU a 58-53 lead in the final two minutes.
Creighton held steady and made its free throws down the stretch to ride out the double-figure win.
Chatman tied his career-high with 19 points while also leading Creighton with seven rebounds and six assists. Zierden finished with 13 points after a scoreless first half. Creighton shot 47.1 percent for the game, including 10-of-23 from three-point range. The Jays won the glass battle 36-33 and had just two turnovers in the second half after 10 miscues in the opening 20 minutes.
Nebraska was paced by 21 points from Petteway, on 8-for-20 shooting from the floor. Shields was held to seven points. NU shot 23-of-61 from the floor (37.7 percent) and 6-of-23 from three-point range (26.1 percent). The Cornhuskers were also 3-for-8 from the line.
Creighton returns to action on Tuesday night when it hosts South Dakota in a game that tips at 8:15 pm.
NOTES: Zach Hanson made his first career start, moving into the line-up in place of Will Artino. Hanson had six points and two rebounds in 25 minutes ... Nebraska led at halftime over Creighton for the first time since 2004 ... Nebraska had won 13 straight non-conference home games dating to a 2012 loss to Creighton at the Bob Devaney Sports Center ... Greg McDermott is now 11-0 in head-to-head meetings with Tim Miles with eight double-figure victories.... Creighton has won seven straight games vs. Big Ten teams, all by eight points or more ... Avery Dingman, Will Artino and Austin Chatman join Kyle Korver and Tyler McKinney as the only Bluejays to go 4-0 against Nebraska in their careers, and join a group that now stretches to nine that have won four times against NU ... Rick Kreklow was 3-for-3 from three-point range after starting the season 3-for-15 from deep ...Creighton is now 25-1 in its last 26 games played in front of 14,000 fans or more ... Creighton has now won 13 times in five seasons under Greg McDermott after trailing by double-figures, including twice this season.
Creighton Head Coach Greg McDermott
Opening Statement
"It is a heck of a win for us, at this stage of the season with this group of guys. To come on the road against a team as good as Nebraska and really execute our game plan almost to perfection. The offensive rebounds were not part of the plan, but other than that I really thought the guys dug in defensively. Pettaway is going to hit some and will make some tough shots and we were prepared to live with that. Our execution down the stretch just to stay patient and be who we are I thought was really good. We have three seniors who have beaten Nebraska four straight times and that hasn't happened often in our history. I am really proud of them given what we lost last year. This is their team now and our preparation this week was really really good. To come in with this crowd that really got into it a few times, but we found a way to respond each time that happened with out having to burn a bunch of timeouts. I am very proud of my team. I obviously have great respect for Tim (Miles) and the job he does, we beat a heck of a basketball team tonight."
On playing in the atmosphere tonight
"I was really worried just trying to get through the first two TV timeouts. We did a good enough job early in the game. I think Nebraska only scored on three of their first 10 possessions and even though they led 7-5 at that point, we didn't throw any fuel on the fire to spark the crowd. So we were able to get through that. We have some veterans on this team. They are just inexperienced in the roles they are playing in right now. We obviously looked to Austin a lot on the floor to put some plays together in big moments. But this is an unbelievable win for us in front of this crowd. It is incredible to have to programs in this state to fill their arenas and their fans are so engaged in their basketball teams the way these two are."
On worrying about Shields alongside Pettaway
"I think Pettaway was taking 20 shots no matter what we did. Shields is obviously a little more choosey and efficient sometimes with his shot selection. So we just didn't want to give him rhythm, we wanted to plug up those lanes especially when he was going to that right hand where he is so good. But lets be honest, he missed a few that he normally makes. So to win a game like this, you need a little luck as well."
On the hype of this game tonight
"It is always significant when you beat Nebraska because they are our rival. I think it is the one game that all fans mark on their calendar. So that makes it fun. I think it is great that we were both NCAA tournament teams last year and we are both off to good starts this year. I think that is awesome for basketball in the state of Nebraska. But the thing that this group of guys was we hadn't found a way to get a win against a quality opponent on the road and we needed to check that off our list. I think there is something in the belief that you can actually do it. And had we lost a close game after how we played defensively that would have been a tough pill to swallow."
No. 1 Austin Chatman
On following the game plan tonight:
"We just tried to keep the ball out of Pettaway and Shields hands and make the other guys score and I think we did a good job of that going into late in the second half."
On how to slow Pettaway down
"He is a guy there is not a lot you can do. He is going to hit tough shots. But you just kind of have to live with that and try and keep everybody else shut down. He is a great player. A lot of credit to him."
On also have Shields alongside Pettaway
"We just needed to take away his drive. He wanted to go to the rim a lot and that was a big key trying to clog up that lane and take away his right hand.
On the atmosphere tonight
"It was pretty tough. It felt like my freshman year when we played at San Diego State, everybody was jumping around, the floor was shaking a little bit, it was loud. We couldn't really hear Mac trying to call plays as much, it was a pretty tough environment."
No. 21 Isaiah Zierden
On following the game plan tonight:
"I thought we did for the most part really well. We got a way from it a little bit in the first half. But it was trying to clog gaps and make sure we were in the driving lanes and we were going to try and make them give it up. I thought in the first half we did a so-so job but in the second half we really did a good job."
On the defensive performance
"Well (at Oklahoma) we didn't follow the game plan there and the result showed. I thought we did a much better job today in the second half. I think we need to as a team realize we need to follow the scouting report a little bit better."
