Sunday, December 31
Omaha, Neb.
1:30 PM
Creighton University
11-3, 1-1BE
83
vs
64
Providence
10-5, 1-1BE
1
2
F
Providence
29
35
64
#25 Creighton
39
44
83
Martin Krampelj
Photo by: Corey Solotorovsky
Foster and Hegner Guide No. 25 Men's Basketball to Decisive Win Over Providence, 83-64
12/31/2017 1:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton closes 2017 with its 10th straight home win
Omaha, Neb. --- Led by a combined 33 points from seniors Marcus Foster (18) and Toby Hegner (15), the No. 25 Creighton men's basketball team cruised to an 83-64 win over Providence on Sunday, Dec. 31.
The win moved the Bluejays to 11-3 on the season and 1-1 in BIG EAST play, while Providence fell to 10-5 overall and 1-1 in conference action.
The Bluejays got off to a quick start as Hegner opened the game with a trey from the left wing, then Martin Krampelj slammed home a dunk to make it 5-0 (17:53). Providence rallied with a 9-5 run, but the Bluejays maintained their edge at 10-9 (16:06), and would not trail during the contest.
With Creighton leading 16-14 moments later, Providence's Kyron Cartwright was forced to the sideline as he tweaked his right ankle. Although Cartwright returned just over four minutes later, the Friars offense hit a cold spell as the Friars went 0-for-11 from the field over the next six minutes. During the stretch the Bluejays outscored Providence 9-0 to surge out to their largest lead of the game to that point, 25-14 (7:44).
Throughout the remainder of the opening period the Bluejays kept Providence at arm's length, taking a 39-29 edge into half. The first half was feast or famine from the field for the Friars as Providence hit 12 of 31 shots (38.7%), but had stretches of four and five consecutive buckets. The Bluejays, meanwhile, shared the basketball well with 11 assists on 15 made field goals.
As they did to open the game Hegner and Krampelj knocked down a three-pointer and a dunk, but this time Krampelj was fouled and knocked down a bonus free throw to give the Bluejays a 16 point edge at 41-25 (18:56) to start the second half. Following a trey from the Friars, Foster scored five straight points to push it to a 50-32 contest. Creighton did not allow Providence any closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Five Bluejays closed the contest in double figures as Krampelj (13), Davion Mintz (12) and Khyri Thomas (11) joined Foster and Hegner. Hegner's 15 equaled his season-high, while Mintz set a new season-best with 12. Creighton had 18 assists on 27 buckets and made double-figure three-pointers (10) for the fourth straight home game.
Providence got a career-high 20 points from freshman Nate Watson in the loss, while Rodney Bullock and Alpha Diallo posted 15 and 10 respectively. Bullock added 10 rebounds for his 14th career double-double, and first of his senior campaign. The Friars shot just 3-of-23 from three-point range and had 13 turnovers in the contest.
The Bluejays remain at home as they return on action on Wednesday, Jan. 3rd at 7:00 pm against St. John's at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
NOTES: Creighton has won 31 straight home games played on a Sunday dating to a Jan. 9, 2005 loss ... Creighton snapped a three-game losing streak to the Friars in Omaha ... Creighton is now 3-2 all-time in BIG EAST home openers ... Creighton has not trailed at any point in four of its last seven home games, 19 of its last 45 home games, and 71 of its 248 all-time CenturyLink Center Omaha games, including today ... Marcus Foster has scored in double-figures in 32 straight games, the nation's eighth-longest active streak ... Foster is the first Creighton player to start his senior season with 14 or more straight double-figure scoring games since Bob Harstad (27) in 1990-91 ... Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 797 straight games ... Creighton has won 10 straight home games ... The crowd of 17,768 was a sellout ... Creighton had all five starters in double-figures for the first time since last season's BIG EAST home opener, a win over Seton Hall on Dec. 28, 2016.
The win moved the Bluejays to 11-3 on the season and 1-1 in BIG EAST play, while Providence fell to 10-5 overall and 1-1 in conference action.
The Bluejays got off to a quick start as Hegner opened the game with a trey from the left wing, then Martin Krampelj slammed home a dunk to make it 5-0 (17:53). Providence rallied with a 9-5 run, but the Bluejays maintained their edge at 10-9 (16:06), and would not trail during the contest.
With Creighton leading 16-14 moments later, Providence's Kyron Cartwright was forced to the sideline as he tweaked his right ankle. Although Cartwright returned just over four minutes later, the Friars offense hit a cold spell as the Friars went 0-for-11 from the field over the next six minutes. During the stretch the Bluejays outscored Providence 9-0 to surge out to their largest lead of the game to that point, 25-14 (7:44).
Throughout the remainder of the opening period the Bluejays kept Providence at arm's length, taking a 39-29 edge into half. The first half was feast or famine from the field for the Friars as Providence hit 12 of 31 shots (38.7%), but had stretches of four and five consecutive buckets. The Bluejays, meanwhile, shared the basketball well with 11 assists on 15 made field goals.
As they did to open the game Hegner and Krampelj knocked down a three-pointer and a dunk, but this time Krampelj was fouled and knocked down a bonus free throw to give the Bluejays a 16 point edge at 41-25 (18:56) to start the second half. Following a trey from the Friars, Foster scored five straight points to push it to a 50-32 contest. Creighton did not allow Providence any closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Five Bluejays closed the contest in double figures as Krampelj (13), Davion Mintz (12) and Khyri Thomas (11) joined Foster and Hegner. Hegner's 15 equaled his season-high, while Mintz set a new season-best with 12. Creighton had 18 assists on 27 buckets and made double-figure three-pointers (10) for the fourth straight home game.
Providence got a career-high 20 points from freshman Nate Watson in the loss, while Rodney Bullock and Alpha Diallo posted 15 and 10 respectively. Bullock added 10 rebounds for his 14th career double-double, and first of his senior campaign. The Friars shot just 3-of-23 from three-point range and had 13 turnovers in the contest.
The Bluejays remain at home as they return on action on Wednesday, Jan. 3rd at 7:00 pm against St. John's at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
NOTES: Creighton has won 31 straight home games played on a Sunday dating to a Jan. 9, 2005 loss ... Creighton snapped a three-game losing streak to the Friars in Omaha ... Creighton is now 3-2 all-time in BIG EAST home openers ... Creighton has not trailed at any point in four of its last seven home games, 19 of its last 45 home games, and 71 of its 248 all-time CenturyLink Center Omaha games, including today ... Marcus Foster has scored in double-figures in 32 straight games, the nation's eighth-longest active streak ... Foster is the first Creighton player to start his senior season with 14 or more straight double-figure scoring games since Bob Harstad (27) in 1990-91 ... Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 797 straight games ... Creighton has won 10 straight home games ... The crowd of 17,768 was a sellout ... Creighton had all five starters in double-figures for the first time since last season's BIG EAST home opener, a win over Seton Hall on Dec. 28, 2016.
Team Stats
PC
CU
FG%
.387
.466
3FG%
.130
.333
FT%
.722
.826
RB
37
37
TO
13
10
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
Meet the Jays - MBB Blake Harper
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Austin Swartz
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Jasen Green
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Ty Davis
Friday, August 15
