Monday, January 16
Cincinnati, Ohio
1:00 PM
Creighton University
18-1, 5-1BE
72
at
67
Xavier
13-5, 3-3BE
1
2
F
Creighton
32
40
72
Xavier
29
38
67
Justin Patton had two tip-ins down the stretch of Creighton's win.
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
#7 Men's Basketball Wins Gritty Road Game at #22 Xavier
1/16/2017 2:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bluejays rally in final minute despite loss of assist leader Maurice Watson Jr.
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The seventh-ranked Creighton men's basketball team earned its best start in program history with a 72-67 road win at No. 22 Xavier on Monday afternoon. The victory improved Creighton to 18-1 overall and 5-1 in BIG EAST play, tying it with No. 1 Villanova for the BIG EAST lead.
The victory made Creighton the first visiting team to beat Xavier three times at Cintas Center, which opened in 2000, and came without the services of national assist leader Maurice Watson Jr. for the game's final 33 minutes.
Creighton came out of the gates strong, getting baskets from all five starters while quickly taking an 11-3 lead. Bluejay point guard Maurice Watson Jr. went out with an injury and Creighton up 17-11, and the Musketeers quickly responded with an 6-0 run to even the score. Xavier took its first lead at 21-19 on two free throws by RaShid Gaston, but Creighton closed the half with a 32-29 advantage.
With Watson sidelined on crutches, Creighton turned to Isaiah Zierden to man the point guard spot for the second half, and the fifth-year senior delivered. His three-pointer with 12:51 left moved Creighton in front 48-43. After Xavier's Kaiser Gates and Creighton's Marcus Foster exchanged three-pointers, the Bluejays broke free with dunks by Ronnie Harrell Jr. and Justin Patton, and a four-point possession after Chris Mack was whistled for a technical foul with 9:00 to play.
Zierden sank both ensuing foul shots, and Khyri Thomas scored inside as Creighton took a 59-50 lead. Martin Krameplj pushed the margin to double-figures at 61-50 with 7:32 left. Xavier answered with the next eight points to draw within three before Toby Hegner silenced the crowd with a three-pointer. But the next trip down, Xavier's Edmond Sumner knifed through traffic for a dunk, and Trevon Bluiett converted two free throws with 3:51 left to make it a 64-62 game.
The Musketeers tied the game at 66 on a hoop from Edmond Sumner, but he would miss the free throw that could have given his team the lead. Creighton came up empty on its next trip, and J.P. Macura was fouled with 1:08 to go. He sank the second foul shot as Xavier took a 67-66 lead.
Creighton ran a pick-and-roll on its next trip. Foster missed driving to the hoop, but Patton was there to tip in the go-ahead score with 49.0 left. Bluiett then missed a three-pointer for Xavier, and three offensive point backs from point blank range missed as well. Cole Huff was fouled with 16.7 left and sank two free throws to give Creighton a 70-67 lead.
Xavier brought it upcourt with 14.8 left and called their final timeout. Bluiett missed a three-pointer and Thomas grabbed the rebound with 5.9 left. He made both to seal the win.
Foster led Creighton with 15 points, while Hegner tied his season-high with 12 points on his 22nd birthday. Thomas finished with 11 points and Patton finished with 10 points and nine rebounds in just 18 minutes of work.
Xavier was led by 17 points by Bluiett, while Gaston had 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Creighton returns home on Saturday to host Marquette, with tip-off scheduled for 1:30 pm at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
NOTES: Creighton improved to 4-69 all-time in true road games against top-25 opponents … Greg McDermott now owns eight wins vs. top-25 teams, more than any other coach in Creighton history … Xavier's Edmond Sumner had 10 points and five assists in 35 minutes while playing off the bench for the first time all year … Creighton converted Xavier's 17 turnovers into 17 points … Creighton shot a season-low 44.4 percent from the field, but made a season-high 91.7 percent from the free-throw line … Maurice Watson Jr. had four points and three assists in nine minutes before leaving the game for good. He moved into ninth in Creighton history in career assists (391) and tied for ninth in Creighton single-season history with 162 assists. He now owns 801 career assists in college, including his time at Boston University … Creighton has led by double-digits in each of its last 22 games, including all 19 contests this season … Creighton has won its first five true road games for the first time since 1942-43 … It's also the first time since 1942-43 that Creighton has won its first eight games away from home … Maurice Watson Jr. had led Creighton in assists in all 18 games this season, and 50-of-53 contests in a Bluejay uniform, before today when Khyri Thomas had one more than Watson … Creighton led for 35:07, Xavier led for 2:17, and the game was tied for 2:36 … Xavier had been 6-0 all-time in games featuring top-25 teams meeting each other at Cintas Center.
The victory made Creighton the first visiting team to beat Xavier three times at Cintas Center, which opened in 2000, and came without the services of national assist leader Maurice Watson Jr. for the game's final 33 minutes.
Creighton came out of the gates strong, getting baskets from all five starters while quickly taking an 11-3 lead. Bluejay point guard Maurice Watson Jr. went out with an injury and Creighton up 17-11, and the Musketeers quickly responded with an 6-0 run to even the score. Xavier took its first lead at 21-19 on two free throws by RaShid Gaston, but Creighton closed the half with a 32-29 advantage.
With Watson sidelined on crutches, Creighton turned to Isaiah Zierden to man the point guard spot for the second half, and the fifth-year senior delivered. His three-pointer with 12:51 left moved Creighton in front 48-43. After Xavier's Kaiser Gates and Creighton's Marcus Foster exchanged three-pointers, the Bluejays broke free with dunks by Ronnie Harrell Jr. and Justin Patton, and a four-point possession after Chris Mack was whistled for a technical foul with 9:00 to play.
Zierden sank both ensuing foul shots, and Khyri Thomas scored inside as Creighton took a 59-50 lead. Martin Krameplj pushed the margin to double-figures at 61-50 with 7:32 left. Xavier answered with the next eight points to draw within three before Toby Hegner silenced the crowd with a three-pointer. But the next trip down, Xavier's Edmond Sumner knifed through traffic for a dunk, and Trevon Bluiett converted two free throws with 3:51 left to make it a 64-62 game.
The Musketeers tied the game at 66 on a hoop from Edmond Sumner, but he would miss the free throw that could have given his team the lead. Creighton came up empty on its next trip, and J.P. Macura was fouled with 1:08 to go. He sank the second foul shot as Xavier took a 67-66 lead.
Creighton ran a pick-and-roll on its next trip. Foster missed driving to the hoop, but Patton was there to tip in the go-ahead score with 49.0 left. Bluiett then missed a three-pointer for Xavier, and three offensive point backs from point blank range missed as well. Cole Huff was fouled with 16.7 left and sank two free throws to give Creighton a 70-67 lead.
Xavier brought it upcourt with 14.8 left and called their final timeout. Bluiett missed a three-pointer and Thomas grabbed the rebound with 5.9 left. He made both to seal the win.
Foster led Creighton with 15 points, while Hegner tied his season-high with 12 points on his 22nd birthday. Thomas finished with 11 points and Patton finished with 10 points and nine rebounds in just 18 minutes of work.
Xavier was led by 17 points by Bluiett, while Gaston had 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Creighton returns home on Saturday to host Marquette, with tip-off scheduled for 1:30 pm at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
NOTES: Creighton improved to 4-69 all-time in true road games against top-25 opponents … Greg McDermott now owns eight wins vs. top-25 teams, more than any other coach in Creighton history … Xavier's Edmond Sumner had 10 points and five assists in 35 minutes while playing off the bench for the first time all year … Creighton converted Xavier's 17 turnovers into 17 points … Creighton shot a season-low 44.4 percent from the field, but made a season-high 91.7 percent from the free-throw line … Maurice Watson Jr. had four points and three assists in nine minutes before leaving the game for good. He moved into ninth in Creighton history in career assists (391) and tied for ninth in Creighton single-season history with 162 assists. He now owns 801 career assists in college, including his time at Boston University … Creighton has led by double-digits in each of its last 22 games, including all 19 contests this season … Creighton has won its first five true road games for the first time since 1942-43 … It's also the first time since 1942-43 that Creighton has won its first eight games away from home … Maurice Watson Jr. had led Creighton in assists in all 18 games this season, and 50-of-53 contests in a Bluejay uniform, before today when Khyri Thomas had one more than Watson … Creighton led for 35:07, Xavier led for 2:17, and the game was tied for 2:36 … Xavier had been 6-0 all-time in games featuring top-25 teams meeting each other at Cintas Center.
Team Stats
CU
XU
FG%
.444
.400
3FG%
.263
.200
FT%
.917
.552
RB
33
43
TO
14
17
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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