Saturday, January 18
Omaha, Neb.
3:30 PM
Creighton University
14-5, 3-3BE
78
vs
74
Providence
11-8, 4-2BE
1
2
F
Providence
37
37
74
#25 Creighton
41
37
78
Marcus Zegarowski
Photo by: Chelsea Nicholson
9-0 Flurry Caps Late Men's Basketball Comeback Win Over Providence
1/18/2020 5:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton erases late deficit to beat PC
OMAHA, Neb. -- No. 25 Creighton used a 9-0 run in the final 86 seconds to erase a late five-point deficit and knock off Providence, 78-74, on Saturday, Jan. 18th.
Creighton improves to 14-5 on the year and 3-3 in BIG EAST play, while Providence drops to 11-8 and is 4-2 in league action.
Ty-Shon Alexander had a season-high 24 points to lead CU, and Marcus Zegarowski shook off pre-game dizziness to hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left. After a Friars turnover, Alexander hit an insurance foul shot with 2.2 left to ice the victory. Also in double-figures for CU was Mitch Ballock (17), Damien Jefferson (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Denzel Mahoney (14).
Providence was led by a career-high 36 points from David Duke, 14 more than his previous best. The sophomore guard scored PC's final 15 points and was the only Friar in double-figures.
Creighton led 41-37 at the half and scored the first four points after the break to take its biggest lead of the afternoon at 45-37. Providence would answer with a 15-6 run on a hoop from preseason All-BIG EAST wing Alpha Diallo, going ahead 52-51 with 11:17 remaining, the first of eight second half lead changes.
Duke made three-pointers on three straight possessions to push the Friars in front 70-67 with 3:51 left. Two foul shots with 1:41 to go by Duke moved PC ahead 74-69 before Creighton started its rally.
Ballock found Alexander for a three-pointer with 1:26 left to make it a two-point game. Diallo would miss and Alexander tied the game on a contested jumper with 36.6 to play.
Providence would move the ball past midcourt before calling time with 30.4 left and 24 on the shot clock. Duke would drive, only to lose control of the ball and have it snatched away from Mahoney with 10.8 to play. The possession arrow favored Creighton, giving the hosts a chance for the win. CU inbounded to Zegarowski, who took five dribbles before calmly pulling up from the top of the key and drained a three-pointer with the hand of PC's Luwane Pipkins in his face.
Both teams called timeout before Duke had his inbounds pass towards midcourt stolen away by Alexander, who was immediately fouled. The Bluejay junior drained the free throw with 2.2 left for the final margin. It capped a big day for Alexander, who made 8-of-10 field goal attempts and moved from 42nd to 37th on Creighton's all-time scoring list with 1,027 career points.
Creighton returns to action on Wednesday with a 8 p.m. game at DePaul that will air on CBS Sports Network.
NOTES: Marcus Zegarowski came off the bench for the first time all season due to his pregame illness, earning Denzel Mahoney his first start as a Bluejay ... Providence had a 25-10 lead in second-chance points despite losing the overall rebound battle, 39-32 ... Mitch Ballock attempted a career-high seven free throws ... Damien Jefferson had his second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds ... Greg McDermott was honored pregame in recognition of his 500th career win last Saturday at Xavier ... Creighton has won its sixth league game of the season in 22 of the past 26 seasons ... Creighton has won three straight games against Providence ... Creighton surpassed 200,000 home fans for the 15th straight season thanks to today's crowd of 17,048 ... Ty-Shon Alexander was 2-for-2 from three-point range and his 172 career three-pointers now rank 11th in Creighton history, one more than Isaiah Zierden ... David Duke is the first Providence player to score 30 or more since Rodney Bullock had 31 on Dec. 22, 2017 vs. Sacred Heart, and his 36 were the most since Bullock had 36 vs. New Hampshire on Nov. 30, 2016 ... Marcus Zegarowski's bucket with 3.2 seconds left was the latest go-ahead score for CU in a win at CHI Health Center Omaha since Doug McDermott's basket with 2.8 seconds left beat St. John's on Jan. 28, 2014. It's just the sixth time in CU's 17 years in the facility (288 games) it has hit a game-winner in the final four seconds.
Team Stats
PC
CU
FG%
.391
.481
3FG%
.393
.500
FT%
.722
.800
RB
32
39
TO
9
15
STL
11
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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