Manny Suarez
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Balanced Effort Leads Men's Basketball To Win In Final Exhibition
11/3/2017 9:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Manny Suarez provides a double-double off the bench
OMAHA, Neb. -- Khyri Thomas scored 22 points to lead four men in double-figures as Creighton men's basketball closed out its exhibition slate with a 93-70 win over UNC Pembroke on Friday night.
UNC Pembroke, the nation's No. 23 Division II team, led for the game's first 7:40 before a Bluejay combination led by reserves Ronnie Harrell Jr. and Manny Suarez sparked a 11-0 run that moved CU into the lead for good.
CU's lead grew to double-figures at 39-28 on a steal and dunk by Thomas with 3:06 to play in the first half before the Bluejays settled for a 49-41 intermission edge. Thomas scored 14 points and Suarez added 10 points and five rebounds in the first half.
All-BIG EAST guard Marcus Foster converted a pair of old-fashioned three-point plays early in the second half as the lead grew to double-figures for good. A dunk by Foster with 7:36 left put CU up 75-54 and the margin stayed at 20 or more the rest of the night.
All 11 Bluejays in uniform scored, led by 22 from Thomas and 19 from Foster. Suarez notched 13 points and 12 rebounds in 18 minutes and Ballock scored eight points after the break to finish with 10.
CU shot 47.8 percent from the field (33-69), including 8-of-26 from three-point range, and were also 19-of-22 (86.4 percent) from the charity stripe. The Bluejays won the rebound battle 42-39 and dished 18 assists against just 13 turnovers. Creighton outscored the Braves 20-6 in transition and also owned a 38-11 lead in bench points.
Nigel Grant led UNC Pembroke with 26 points. Akia Pruitt had 10 points, with Brandon Watts (11) and Micah Kinsey (10) also scoring in double-figures. The Braves made 41.8 percent from the floor, were 6-of-15 from deep, and drained 8-of-13 at the line.
Creighton opens the regular-season on Friday at 8 p.m. against Yale.
NOTES: Greg McDermott and Darian DeVries honored Eldon Miller during a pregame ceremony. Miller, now an assistant coach at UNC Pembroke, was the head coach for both McDermott and DeVries at Northern Iowa ... Greg McDermott improved to 26-0 in exhibition games as a Division I head coach, including a 9-0 mark at Creighton. All but one of his triumphs have been by double-figures ... Creighton has won 18 straight exhibition games.
UNC Pembroke, the nation's No. 23 Division II team, led for the game's first 7:40 before a Bluejay combination led by reserves Ronnie Harrell Jr. and Manny Suarez sparked a 11-0 run that moved CU into the lead for good.
CU's lead grew to double-figures at 39-28 on a steal and dunk by Thomas with 3:06 to play in the first half before the Bluejays settled for a 49-41 intermission edge. Thomas scored 14 points and Suarez added 10 points and five rebounds in the first half.
All-BIG EAST guard Marcus Foster converted a pair of old-fashioned three-point plays early in the second half as the lead grew to double-figures for good. A dunk by Foster with 7:36 left put CU up 75-54 and the margin stayed at 20 or more the rest of the night.
All 11 Bluejays in uniform scored, led by 22 from Thomas and 19 from Foster. Suarez notched 13 points and 12 rebounds in 18 minutes and Ballock scored eight points after the break to finish with 10.
CU shot 47.8 percent from the field (33-69), including 8-of-26 from three-point range, and were also 19-of-22 (86.4 percent) from the charity stripe. The Bluejays won the rebound battle 42-39 and dished 18 assists against just 13 turnovers. Creighton outscored the Braves 20-6 in transition and also owned a 38-11 lead in bench points.
Nigel Grant led UNC Pembroke with 26 points. Akia Pruitt had 10 points, with Brandon Watts (11) and Micah Kinsey (10) also scoring in double-figures. The Braves made 41.8 percent from the floor, were 6-of-15 from deep, and drained 8-of-13 at the line.
Creighton opens the regular-season on Friday at 8 p.m. against Yale.
NOTES: Greg McDermott and Darian DeVries honored Eldon Miller during a pregame ceremony. Miller, now an assistant coach at UNC Pembroke, was the head coach for both McDermott and DeVries at Northern Iowa ... Greg McDermott improved to 26-0 in exhibition games as a Division I head coach, including a 9-0 mark at Creighton. All but one of his triumphs have been by double-figures ... Creighton has won 18 straight exhibition games.
Team Stats
UNCP
CU-EX
FG%
.418
.478
3FG%
.400
.308
FT%
.615
.864
RB
39
42
TO
19
13
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
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