Tuesday, November 15
Omaha, Neb.
7:30 PM
Creighton University
2-0
79
vs
67
Wisconsin
1-1
1
2
F
Wisconsin
30
37
67
Creighton
33
46
79
Justin Patton's dunk in the closing seconds was the exclamation mark in Creighton's win over #9 Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Photo by: Jim Rash
No. 22 Creighton Upends No. 9 Wisconsin, 79-67
11/15/2016 10:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Khyri Thomas leads four Bluejays in double-figures
OMAHA, Neb. -- Four Bluejays finished in double figures as No. 22 Creighton defeated No. 9 Wisconsin, 79-67, in the Gavitt Tipoff Games on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
The win boosted Creighton to 2-0 on the season, while the Badgers fell to 1-1. UW was the highest-ranked non-conference team to play at Creighton since 1983, and the first non-conference top-10 foe Creighton beat at home since No.7 Houston on Feb. 17, 1973.
Defense triggered the Bluejays early in the game as Creighton forced Wisconsin into five turnovers in the opening six minutes. Creighton scored the first eight points of the contest in just 90 seconds as Justin Patton converted a layup on the opening possession, followed by two treys from Marcus Foster off of Badger turnovers to lead to a quick Badger timeout.
Wisconsin used its size to get back into the contest as the Badgers held a 25-15 rebounding edge in the first half. The extra possessions allowed Wisconsin to rally back to tie the game at 11-11 and take its first lead at 20-18 (10:56). Wisconsin pushed its lead out to 28-20 with just over seven minutes remaining in the half.
Once more Patton ignited a Bluejay surge as the freshman powered through the defense for a dunk with 7:12 showing on the clock. The resulting roar from the crowd gave Creighton new life as the Bluejays closed the half on a 13-2 run. Five different Bluejays scored down the stretch, led by four points from Foster and Maurice Watson Jr., as CU led 33-30 at the break.
The second half belonged to sophomore Khyri Thomas as the Omaha native had 15 of his team-high 18. CU took the lead for good on a jumper by Patton to make it 52-50 with 8:54 to play, part of a 19-4 burst. Thomas had the last six points in that stretch, converting a three-point play before a fast-break corner trey forced another timeout as CU took a 63-52 lead.
Wisconsin would get within five (70-65) with 1:21 to play, but Watson sank 3-of-4 foul shots to keep the lead safe. Breakaway dunks by Patton and Thomas in the final 30 seconds sealed off Creighton's third top-10 home victory in the last four years, and fourth at all sites.
Creighton returns to action on Friday, Nov. 18 as the Bluejays travel to the St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to face off with Washington State at 7:30 pm in the first game for both squads in the Paradise Jam.
NOTES: Creighton improved to 8-0 since 1968 in home games against Big Ten teams ... Creighton owns nine top-10 wins in program history, with four of those coming since January 20, 2014 ... Wisconsin's 39 three-point attempts were second-most in Badger history, and set a CenturyLink Center Omaha record ... Creighton improved to 24-132 all-time against ranked teams, including a 16-37 home mark and a 9-58 mark against top-10 teams ... Greg McDermott is 6-17 against top-25 teams as Creighton coach, including a 5-7 mark at home and a 4-7 mark against top-10 teams under McDermott ... McDermott is 3-1 in home games against top-10 teams, with all three wins by double-figures ... Creighton improved to 53-0 all-time in regular-season home games that take place on or before November 26th ... Creighton has won 55 of its last 56 regular-season home games played in November ... Justin Patton's lay-up to open Creighton's scoring pushed Creighton over 17,000 career points at CenturyLink Center Omaha. The Jays are 16-1 in games when passing a 1,000 point milestone in the facility ... Creighton is now 10-2 against Big Ten teams under Greg McDermott, with nine double-digit wins ... Maurice Watson Jr. had Creighton's first double-double of the season, and the ninth of his career ... The loss was the first in five games at CenturyLink Center Omaha for Wisconsin, which had a pair of 2-0 weekends in NCAA Tournament play in 2008 and 2015 ... Creighton improved to 3-7 against top-25 teams when ranked itself ... Creighton improved to 1-5 all-time against teams ranked exactly ninth all-time ... Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 750 straight games ... Creighton has won 121 straight home gams when scoring 78 or more points ... Maurice Watson Jr. has eight or more assists in four straight games dating to last season.
The win boosted Creighton to 2-0 on the season, while the Badgers fell to 1-1. UW was the highest-ranked non-conference team to play at Creighton since 1983, and the first non-conference top-10 foe Creighton beat at home since No.7 Houston on Feb. 17, 1973.
Defense triggered the Bluejays early in the game as Creighton forced Wisconsin into five turnovers in the opening six minutes. Creighton scored the first eight points of the contest in just 90 seconds as Justin Patton converted a layup on the opening possession, followed by two treys from Marcus Foster off of Badger turnovers to lead to a quick Badger timeout.
Wisconsin used its size to get back into the contest as the Badgers held a 25-15 rebounding edge in the first half. The extra possessions allowed Wisconsin to rally back to tie the game at 11-11 and take its first lead at 20-18 (10:56). Wisconsin pushed its lead out to 28-20 with just over seven minutes remaining in the half.
Once more Patton ignited a Bluejay surge as the freshman powered through the defense for a dunk with 7:12 showing on the clock. The resulting roar from the crowd gave Creighton new life as the Bluejays closed the half on a 13-2 run. Five different Bluejays scored down the stretch, led by four points from Foster and Maurice Watson Jr., as CU led 33-30 at the break.
The second half belonged to sophomore Khyri Thomas as the Omaha native had 15 of his team-high 18. CU took the lead for good on a jumper by Patton to make it 52-50 with 8:54 to play, part of a 19-4 burst. Thomas had the last six points in that stretch, converting a three-point play before a fast-break corner trey forced another timeout as CU took a 63-52 lead.
Wisconsin would get within five (70-65) with 1:21 to play, but Watson sank 3-of-4 foul shots to keep the lead safe. Breakaway dunks by Patton and Thomas in the final 30 seconds sealed off Creighton's third top-10 home victory in the last four years, and fourth at all sites.
Creighton returns to action on Friday, Nov. 18 as the Bluejays travel to the St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to face off with Washington State at 7:30 pm in the first game for both squads in the Paradise Jam.
NOTES: Creighton improved to 8-0 since 1968 in home games against Big Ten teams ... Creighton owns nine top-10 wins in program history, with four of those coming since January 20, 2014 ... Wisconsin's 39 three-point attempts were second-most in Badger history, and set a CenturyLink Center Omaha record ... Creighton improved to 24-132 all-time against ranked teams, including a 16-37 home mark and a 9-58 mark against top-10 teams ... Greg McDermott is 6-17 against top-25 teams as Creighton coach, including a 5-7 mark at home and a 4-7 mark against top-10 teams under McDermott ... McDermott is 3-1 in home games against top-10 teams, with all three wins by double-figures ... Creighton improved to 53-0 all-time in regular-season home games that take place on or before November 26th ... Creighton has won 55 of its last 56 regular-season home games played in November ... Justin Patton's lay-up to open Creighton's scoring pushed Creighton over 17,000 career points at CenturyLink Center Omaha. The Jays are 16-1 in games when passing a 1,000 point milestone in the facility ... Creighton is now 10-2 against Big Ten teams under Greg McDermott, with nine double-digit wins ... Maurice Watson Jr. had Creighton's first double-double of the season, and the ninth of his career ... The loss was the first in five games at CenturyLink Center Omaha for Wisconsin, which had a pair of 2-0 weekends in NCAA Tournament play in 2008 and 2015 ... Creighton improved to 3-7 against top-25 teams when ranked itself ... Creighton improved to 1-5 all-time against teams ranked exactly ninth all-time ... Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 750 straight games ... Creighton has won 121 straight home gams when scoring 78 or more points ... Maurice Watson Jr. has eight or more assists in four straight games dating to last season.
Team Stats
WIS
CU
FG%
.413
.500
3FG%
.282
.500
FT%
.800
.682
RB
42
27
TO
16
7
STL
4
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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