Saturday, February 14
CenturyLink Center Omaha
12:01 PM
Creighton University
12-14, 3-10BE
77
vs
70
Marquette
11-14, 3-10BE
1
2
F
Marquette
29
41
70
Creighton
37
40
77
Seniors Lead Men's Basketball Past Marquette
2/14/2015 12:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Rick Kreklow had a career-high 19 points to help the Creighton men's basketball team to a 77-70 victory over Marquette on Saturday afternoon before 17,248 fans at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Creighton improved to 12-14 with the win, while MU fell to 11-14. Both teams are 3-10 in BIG EAST action.
Kreklow paced four Bluejays in double-figures with 19 points and was joined by Will Artino (12), Geoffrey Groselle (12) and Devin Brooks (13). Artino added a career-best 14 rebounds. The Bluejays shot a season-high 54.9 percent for the game, including 47.1 percent from three-point range, and had 18 assists on 28 baskets.
Marquette was paced by 26 points from freshman Duane Wilson, while Steve Taylor Jr. (12) and Luke Fischer (11) also filled up the scoring column. The Golden Eagles played without the services of guard Matt Carlino due to a concussion.
Marquette's only lead of the game came after a Fischer hoop in the first minute. Creighton would score 10 of the game's next 14 points, including two three-pointers by Kreklow, and never trailed again.
The margin reached double-figures for the first time at 21-11 on a Devin Brooks lay-up with 10:34 left in the first half. Kreklow's fifth three-pointer of the half gave CU a 34-25 lead, and came after the fifth-year senior made a diving save to keep the ball inbounds, got to his feet, and buried the corner three-pointer. Following the game, Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said "it's one of the better plays I've seen in this building."
Fueled by 15 points from Kreklow, the Bluejays took a 37-29 lead into the break on 7-of-11 shooting from downtown.
Wilson led Marquette's second half charge, scoring 20 of his game-high 26 points, but it would not be enough. MU got within five (50-45) with 13:20 left on a three-pointer by Taylor, only to see CU return to the lead to 59-49 with 10:37 left. Twice in the final two minutes Wilson hit a free throw to draw MU within five points, but CU answered each time. The Bluejays drained 6-of-6 free throws in the final 30 seconds to ice the game away as seniors Austin Chatman and Brooks both converted when it mattered most.
Chatman and Brooks each had six assists on the day for Creighton, while James Milliken dished four assists. Creighton won the rebound battle 42-26 and outscored MU 40-26 in the paint.
Creighton returns to action on Monday when it hosts No. 18 Butler in a game slated to tip at 8:15 p.m. Central. Monday's game will be a "Blue Out", with the first 10,000 fans entering the venue scheduled to receive a complimentary "Better Together Blue Out" t-shirt.
NOTES: Creighton used their 10th different starting five of the season, as Geoffrey Groselle, James Milliken and Toby Hegner joined Austin Chatman and Rick Kreklow in the starting five ... Creighton's starting five scored 50 points after contributing just 21 points last Saturday vs. St. John's ... The 12:01 p.m. start was the earliest in Creighton's 200 games at CenturyLink Center Omaha ... Creighton is now 170-30 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha, including an 84-21 mark in league action ... Will Artino now owns three double-doubles this season ... Creighton has won 86 straight games at home against teams that enter with a .500 record or worse ... Creighton extended its streaks to 706 straight games with a three-pointer, 61 straight games with four or more three-pointers and 95 straight home wins when scoring 75 or more points ... Rick Kreklow's six three-pointers were a career-high, and tied the Creighton record at CenturyLink Center Omaha. He's the eighth Bluejay to make six or more three-pointers in a game at the facility.
Creighton improved to 12-14 with the win, while MU fell to 11-14. Both teams are 3-10 in BIG EAST action.
Kreklow paced four Bluejays in double-figures with 19 points and was joined by Will Artino (12), Geoffrey Groselle (12) and Devin Brooks (13). Artino added a career-best 14 rebounds. The Bluejays shot a season-high 54.9 percent for the game, including 47.1 percent from three-point range, and had 18 assists on 28 baskets.
Marquette was paced by 26 points from freshman Duane Wilson, while Steve Taylor Jr. (12) and Luke Fischer (11) also filled up the scoring column. The Golden Eagles played without the services of guard Matt Carlino due to a concussion.
Marquette's only lead of the game came after a Fischer hoop in the first minute. Creighton would score 10 of the game's next 14 points, including two three-pointers by Kreklow, and never trailed again.
The margin reached double-figures for the first time at 21-11 on a Devin Brooks lay-up with 10:34 left in the first half. Kreklow's fifth three-pointer of the half gave CU a 34-25 lead, and came after the fifth-year senior made a diving save to keep the ball inbounds, got to his feet, and buried the corner three-pointer. Following the game, Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said "it's one of the better plays I've seen in this building."
Fueled by 15 points from Kreklow, the Bluejays took a 37-29 lead into the break on 7-of-11 shooting from downtown.
Wilson led Marquette's second half charge, scoring 20 of his game-high 26 points, but it would not be enough. MU got within five (50-45) with 13:20 left on a three-pointer by Taylor, only to see CU return to the lead to 59-49 with 10:37 left. Twice in the final two minutes Wilson hit a free throw to draw MU within five points, but CU answered each time. The Bluejays drained 6-of-6 free throws in the final 30 seconds to ice the game away as seniors Austin Chatman and Brooks both converted when it mattered most.
Chatman and Brooks each had six assists on the day for Creighton, while James Milliken dished four assists. Creighton won the rebound battle 42-26 and outscored MU 40-26 in the paint.
Creighton returns to action on Monday when it hosts No. 18 Butler in a game slated to tip at 8:15 p.m. Central. Monday's game will be a "Blue Out", with the first 10,000 fans entering the venue scheduled to receive a complimentary "Better Together Blue Out" t-shirt.
NOTES: Creighton used their 10th different starting five of the season, as Geoffrey Groselle, James Milliken and Toby Hegner joined Austin Chatman and Rick Kreklow in the starting five ... Creighton's starting five scored 50 points after contributing just 21 points last Saturday vs. St. John's ... The 12:01 p.m. start was the earliest in Creighton's 200 games at CenturyLink Center Omaha ... Creighton is now 170-30 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha, including an 84-21 mark in league action ... Will Artino now owns three double-doubles this season ... Creighton has won 86 straight games at home against teams that enter with a .500 record or worse ... Creighton extended its streaks to 706 straight games with a three-pointer, 61 straight games with four or more three-pointers and 95 straight home wins when scoring 75 or more points ... Rick Kreklow's six three-pointers were a career-high, and tied the Creighton record at CenturyLink Center Omaha. He's the eighth Bluejay to make six or more three-pointers in a game at the facility.
Team Stats
MU
CU
FG%
.397
.549
3FG%
.450
.471
FT%
.652
.650
RB
26
42
TO
8
16
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
6
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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