Saturday, December 3
Omaha, Neb.
7:00 PM
Creighton University
8-0
82
vs
70
Akron
6-2
1
2
F
Akron
30
40
70
Creighton
37
45
82
Marcus Foster scored 27 points on Saturday
Photo by: A.J. Olnes
Tenth-Ranked Men's Basketball Improves To 8-0 With 82-70 Win Over Akron
12/3/2016 9:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Marcus Foster pours in 27 in victory while Watson sets arena record with 13 assists
OMAHA, Neb. -- Marcus Foster scored points in bunches early and Creighton embarked on a 14-0 run in the second half as the 10th-ranked Bluejays improved to 8-0 with an 82-70 win over Akron before 16,852 fans on Saturday night at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Foster finished with a season-high 27 points, while Maurice Watson Jr. contributed a CenturyLink Center Omaha record 13 assists.
Creighton's 8-0 start is its best since opening 12-0 in 2003-04 and losing to Greg McDermott's Northern Iowa club. Akron had a six-game win streak snapped, falling to 6-2.
Foster was honored minutes before tip-off for scoring his 1,000th career point in Tuesday's win over Buffalo, and seven minutes in it was evident he was well on his way to a special night. The junior guard made his first five shot attempts and had 13 early points as CU bolted to a 16-7 lead with 13:41 left in the first half.
Creighton remained in control throughout the half, but Akron hit just enough shots to keep the score interesting. Foster had 17 points as CU led by a 37-30 margin at the half, outscoring the Zips 12-0 in fast break points.
After Akron got within five points at 46-41 on a trey by Kwan Cheatham Jr. with 14:41 to play, Creighton uncorked a 14-0 burst that started included three-pointers by Cole Huff and Watson, as well as dunks from Justin Patton and Foster, as the lead grew to 60-41 with 11:06 remaining. Akron never got closer than eight the rest of the way.
Huff scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half and now owns 999 career points. When he reaches that milestone, he'll join Watson and Foster as a rare active trio of teammates with 1,000 career points.
Foster made 11-of-19 attempts on the night and had three of CU's six dunks. Two of those dunks came from Patton, who had 11 points and seven rebounds to go with three steals and two blocks. Both men have scored in double-figures all eight games as a Bluejay to date.
Watson had a double-double himself with 14 points and 13 assists, adding three steals.
Creighton shot 55.2 percent from the floor and remains the nation's only squad to shoot 50 percent or better in every game this winter. The Jays also dished 23 assists on 32 made baskets and collected nine steals. CU never trailed, the 11th time in its last 24 home games in which it led wire-to-wire.
Akron was led by 17 points and seven rebounds by Chatham Jr., including 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range. The Zips shot 47.4 percent from the floor and outrebounded CU 33-32, but 17 turnovers were too much to overcome.
The Bluejays return to action on Wednesday with a game at Nebraska that tips at 8 pm Central.
Foster finished with a season-high 27 points, while Maurice Watson Jr. contributed a CenturyLink Center Omaha record 13 assists.
Creighton's 8-0 start is its best since opening 12-0 in 2003-04 and losing to Greg McDermott's Northern Iowa club. Akron had a six-game win streak snapped, falling to 6-2.
Foster was honored minutes before tip-off for scoring his 1,000th career point in Tuesday's win over Buffalo, and seven minutes in it was evident he was well on his way to a special night. The junior guard made his first five shot attempts and had 13 early points as CU bolted to a 16-7 lead with 13:41 left in the first half.
Creighton remained in control throughout the half, but Akron hit just enough shots to keep the score interesting. Foster had 17 points as CU led by a 37-30 margin at the half, outscoring the Zips 12-0 in fast break points.
After Akron got within five points at 46-41 on a trey by Kwan Cheatham Jr. with 14:41 to play, Creighton uncorked a 14-0 burst that started included three-pointers by Cole Huff and Watson, as well as dunks from Justin Patton and Foster, as the lead grew to 60-41 with 11:06 remaining. Akron never got closer than eight the rest of the way.
Huff scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half and now owns 999 career points. When he reaches that milestone, he'll join Watson and Foster as a rare active trio of teammates with 1,000 career points.
Foster made 11-of-19 attempts on the night and had three of CU's six dunks. Two of those dunks came from Patton, who had 11 points and seven rebounds to go with three steals and two blocks. Both men have scored in double-figures all eight games as a Bluejay to date.
Watson had a double-double himself with 14 points and 13 assists, adding three steals.
Creighton shot 55.2 percent from the floor and remains the nation's only squad to shoot 50 percent or better in every game this winter. The Jays also dished 23 assists on 32 made baskets and collected nine steals. CU never trailed, the 11th time in its last 24 home games in which it led wire-to-wire.
Akron was led by 17 points and seven rebounds by Chatham Jr., including 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range. The Zips shot 47.4 percent from the floor and outrebounded CU 33-32, but 17 turnovers were too much to overcome.
The Bluejays return to action on Wednesday with a game at Nebraska that tips at 8 pm Central.
Team Stats
AKRON
CU
FG%
.474
.552
3FG%
.387
.333
FT%
.500
.625
RB
33
32
TO
17
11
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
11
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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