Tuesday, November 16
Lincoln, Neb.
6:00 PM
Creighton University
3-0,0-0Big East
77
at
69
Nebraska
1-2,0-0Big Ten
1
2
F
Creighton
40
37
77
Nebraska
36
33
69
Photo by: Chelsea Nicholson
Men's Basketball Claims 77-69 Win Over Nebraska
11/16/2021 7:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Ryan Nembhard leads CU with 22 points and Ryan Hawkins has another double-double
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Creighton men's basketball team extended its era of dominance over intrastate rival Nebraska, taking the 10th game in the last 11 meetings, with a 77-69 win on Tuesday, November 16 at soldout Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The victory pushed Creighton to 3-0 on the season, while the Huskers fell to 1-2.
With Creighton holding a 68-62 lead with 3:40 remaining in the game, Bluejay senior Ryan Hawkins sent the fans heading for the exits with a pair of three-pointers, pushing Creighton's lead out to 74-62 with 1:29 left. The difference in the second half was three-point shooting as Creighton went 6-of-12 (50.0%) in the final 20 minutes, while Nebraska was 2-for-11 (18.2%)
Down 5-1 in the opening moments, the Bluejays turned the early deficit around quickly with a 13-0 run. Senior Alex O'Connell fueled the Bluejay surge with nine of his 15 points, including a pair of treys, to give Creighton a 14-5 advantage with 15:09 remaining. Up 16-10 moments later the Bluejays delivered another bakers dozen to extend the lead to 29-10 (9:20). Freshman Ryan Nembhard provided the spark this time with a traditional three-point play, followed by a pair from long range. O'Connell and returning junior Shereef Mitchell capped the Bluejays' run with mid-range jumpers.
Creighton held a 33-15 edge with 8:01 remaining in the opening stanza, but the final eight minutes belonged to the Huskers as Nebraska pulled within one at 37-36 before three free-throws by Nembhard in the final minute sent CU to the locker room at the half with a 40-36 lead.
The two teams traded layups early in the second half, but Nebraska got the better of the exchange to melt the Creighton lead to one at 44-43 with 16:25 to play. The Bluejays began to find their range trifectas from freshman Trey Alexander, Nembhard and Hawkins pushed the Bluejays advantage out to 55-47 with 10:49 remaining.
The rivals traded body blows over the next seven minutes, yet Creighton held a 68-62 lead heading into the final four minutes.
Nembhard led all scorers with 22 points, while Hawkins delivered his second double-double in three games at 15 points and 10 rebounds. O'Connell and sophomore Ryan Kalkbrenner rounded out the Bluejays in double-figures with 13 and 12 points respectively.
The Bluejays take flight toward the U.S. Virgin Islands as Creighton takes part in the Paradise Jam. The Bluejays first round opponent is Brown on Friday, November 19, with tip off set for 2:15 pm (CT). The game can be found online via ESPN3.
NOTES: Ryan Nembhard had 12 of Creighton's first 25 points to reach double-figures for the third straight game to start his career … After scoring 7+ points in just three of 24 games played a year ago, Alex O'Connell had his third straight game in double-figures on Tuesday … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 916th straight game, the nation's 14th-longest active streak … The Bluejays have also made a trifecta before halftime in 287 straight games … Creighton has led at halftime in 19 of the last 23 regular-season meetings vs. Nebraska, including 40-36 tonight … Ryan Nembhard became Creighton's first player with 20+ points in his first game vs. Nebraska since Terrell Taylor had 21 points vs. NU on Dec. 9, 1999 … Ryan Kalkbrenner's 9 rebounds were a career high for the sophomore, eclipsing his previous best of 8 last season against the Cornhuskers ... Creighton improved to 3-0 for the ninth time in 12 seasons under Greg McDermott … Teams with Ryan Hawkins are now 162-8 at the college level … Creighton now owns a 29-26 advantage in the all-time series vs. Nebraska and has won 19 of the past 23 regular-season meetings against the Cornhuskers … Creighton became the first non-conference team to beat Nebraska three times inside Pinnacle Bank Arena … Greg McDermott is now 16-4 all-time against Nebraska (10-2 as Creighton coach) and 3-1 in head-to-head meetings vs. Fred Hoiberg … McDermott's 10 wins vs. Nebraska tie him with Dana Altman for the most in program history against the Cornhuskers … Creighton is now 16-4 in its last 20 games vs. Big Ten teams, including 13 double-digit victories … Creighton is now 3-3 all-time in the Gavitt Tipoff Games … The BIG EAST now leads the 2021 edition of the Gavitt Tipoff Games 3-0, including wins last night by Marquette (vs. Illinois) and by Providence (at Wisconsin).
Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg
On Trey McGowens
"Quick update on Trey. He broke his (right) foot tonight. Devastating news for the heart and soul of our team. He came down on it wrong and broke the fifth metatarsal. He will meet with our team of physicians and trainers, and we will put a time frame on the rehab and when we can expect him back. We expect him to make a full recovery and be back to normal. We don't know the time frame of it yet. but it's just heartbreaking for a guy that has come in here and bought into his role. He is our best leader. He uses his voice every day in practice for the warmup all the way to the end. Really tough loss and really feel for him. He will have a lot of support through this process and hopefully he will be back as soon as possible."
On the key to the game
"We lost that game in the first five minutes. Every day, we put the key on what the games are and the last two we have not gone out and executed. The last game was (offensive) rebounding. They got four of them in the first minute and a half. Tonight was transition and after getting off to a solid start/ I think it was 5-1 in our favor, but they got anything they wanted in transition. That is disappointing."
On the play of the bench
"I give our bench a lot of credit for going out there and playing the right way and in climbing back into that. We had a couple chances to get over the hump to take a lead. I do not think we ever got it. We had to hit one of those shots. I think we had a couple at the rim and an open three. Maybe it is a different outcome maybe the momentum shifts to our side, but give Creighton credit. They played well. I liked their team a lot. They got shooting all across the board and great size. For us, there is going to be things we can build off of in this game. You always have to look for the positives. There is a lot of things that we need to correct."
On what the Huskers need to improve on
"The biggest thing is we have to come out and get off to better starts. We can not continue to dig ourselves a hole like that. It takes too much energy to get yourself out."
Senior guard Kobe Webster
On mentality of the team when down and spark to get back into it
"The key to the game was getting back in transition so the first 5-6 minutes that's really where a lot of their buckets came from. Once we cut that off and got moving on the offensive end, the ball started popping and we were able to get easy looks."
On individual impact on game
"I know what I'm capable of. Coach has confidence in me. He had the confidence to put me in the game so I'm not going to harp on any individual stats because the goal is to win. Like I said I know what I'm capable of and glad I could give a spark but I want to win."
On next step to get team back on track
"Stay me. Stay energized. Stay in guys' ear. I said this from day one. We talked about it that whether I'm on the bench or floor that I'm always going to be the loudest person. Like I said just stay me."
On managing after an emotional loss
"We said it multiple times. We have to flush away a win and flush away a loss. We got three games in six days so we have to start preparing for that and just get back to it."
Creighton Coach Greg McDermott
On the play of his point guards
"It's everything. It was good to have Shereef Mitchell back. It gives us another defender and another ballhandler and obviously he has some experience. Ryan (Nembhard) is a special player. He controls the tempo of the game for us. Defensively, he does a solid job and he distributes as well. He is hard on himself with those turnovers and that's something that he will get better at as he gets older. He is going to make me a great coach."
On Ryan Nembhard's performance
"That's pretty good poise and he has to guard a good player. Verge is in every ball screen and Webster came in and he's chasing him off-screen. He's got to exert energy on the defensive side. It's not like we hide him down there and save him for offense. He's got to play both ends of the floor, and he does it extremely well."
On if he could feel the momentum start to change
"The game was in the balance without question until the last minute or two. They went small so we went small. In some ways, that allows us to spread them out a little more. We can throw it to someone in the block and try and draw that double-team and make the extra pass. It's a lineup that we practice a little bit and that we want to use a little bit more as time goes on. We were a little handcuffed tonight because of Arthur's foul trouble, but he will be fresh on Friday."
The victory pushed Creighton to 3-0 on the season, while the Huskers fell to 1-2.
With Creighton holding a 68-62 lead with 3:40 remaining in the game, Bluejay senior Ryan Hawkins sent the fans heading for the exits with a pair of three-pointers, pushing Creighton's lead out to 74-62 with 1:29 left. The difference in the second half was three-point shooting as Creighton went 6-of-12 (50.0%) in the final 20 minutes, while Nebraska was 2-for-11 (18.2%)
Down 5-1 in the opening moments, the Bluejays turned the early deficit around quickly with a 13-0 run. Senior Alex O'Connell fueled the Bluejay surge with nine of his 15 points, including a pair of treys, to give Creighton a 14-5 advantage with 15:09 remaining. Up 16-10 moments later the Bluejays delivered another bakers dozen to extend the lead to 29-10 (9:20). Freshman Ryan Nembhard provided the spark this time with a traditional three-point play, followed by a pair from long range. O'Connell and returning junior Shereef Mitchell capped the Bluejays' run with mid-range jumpers.
Creighton held a 33-15 edge with 8:01 remaining in the opening stanza, but the final eight minutes belonged to the Huskers as Nebraska pulled within one at 37-36 before three free-throws by Nembhard in the final minute sent CU to the locker room at the half with a 40-36 lead.
The two teams traded layups early in the second half, but Nebraska got the better of the exchange to melt the Creighton lead to one at 44-43 with 16:25 to play. The Bluejays began to find their range trifectas from freshman Trey Alexander, Nembhard and Hawkins pushed the Bluejays advantage out to 55-47 with 10:49 remaining.
The rivals traded body blows over the next seven minutes, yet Creighton held a 68-62 lead heading into the final four minutes.
Nembhard led all scorers with 22 points, while Hawkins delivered his second double-double in three games at 15 points and 10 rebounds. O'Connell and sophomore Ryan Kalkbrenner rounded out the Bluejays in double-figures with 13 and 12 points respectively.
The Bluejays take flight toward the U.S. Virgin Islands as Creighton takes part in the Paradise Jam. The Bluejays first round opponent is Brown on Friday, November 19, with tip off set for 2:15 pm (CT). The game can be found online via ESPN3.
NOTES: Ryan Nembhard had 12 of Creighton's first 25 points to reach double-figures for the third straight game to start his career … After scoring 7+ points in just three of 24 games played a year ago, Alex O'Connell had his third straight game in double-figures on Tuesday … Creighton made a three-pointer for the 916th straight game, the nation's 14th-longest active streak … The Bluejays have also made a trifecta before halftime in 287 straight games … Creighton has led at halftime in 19 of the last 23 regular-season meetings vs. Nebraska, including 40-36 tonight … Ryan Nembhard became Creighton's first player with 20+ points in his first game vs. Nebraska since Terrell Taylor had 21 points vs. NU on Dec. 9, 1999 … Ryan Kalkbrenner's 9 rebounds were a career high for the sophomore, eclipsing his previous best of 8 last season against the Cornhuskers ... Creighton improved to 3-0 for the ninth time in 12 seasons under Greg McDermott … Teams with Ryan Hawkins are now 162-8 at the college level … Creighton now owns a 29-26 advantage in the all-time series vs. Nebraska and has won 19 of the past 23 regular-season meetings against the Cornhuskers … Creighton became the first non-conference team to beat Nebraska three times inside Pinnacle Bank Arena … Greg McDermott is now 16-4 all-time against Nebraska (10-2 as Creighton coach) and 3-1 in head-to-head meetings vs. Fred Hoiberg … McDermott's 10 wins vs. Nebraska tie him with Dana Altman for the most in program history against the Cornhuskers … Creighton is now 16-4 in its last 20 games vs. Big Ten teams, including 13 double-digit victories … Creighton is now 3-3 all-time in the Gavitt Tipoff Games … The BIG EAST now leads the 2021 edition of the Gavitt Tipoff Games 3-0, including wins last night by Marquette (vs. Illinois) and by Providence (at Wisconsin).
Nebraska Coach Fred Hoiberg
On Trey McGowens
"Quick update on Trey. He broke his (right) foot tonight. Devastating news for the heart and soul of our team. He came down on it wrong and broke the fifth metatarsal. He will meet with our team of physicians and trainers, and we will put a time frame on the rehab and when we can expect him back. We expect him to make a full recovery and be back to normal. We don't know the time frame of it yet. but it's just heartbreaking for a guy that has come in here and bought into his role. He is our best leader. He uses his voice every day in practice for the warmup all the way to the end. Really tough loss and really feel for him. He will have a lot of support through this process and hopefully he will be back as soon as possible."
On the key to the game
"We lost that game in the first five minutes. Every day, we put the key on what the games are and the last two we have not gone out and executed. The last game was (offensive) rebounding. They got four of them in the first minute and a half. Tonight was transition and after getting off to a solid start/ I think it was 5-1 in our favor, but they got anything they wanted in transition. That is disappointing."
On the play of the bench
"I give our bench a lot of credit for going out there and playing the right way and in climbing back into that. We had a couple chances to get over the hump to take a lead. I do not think we ever got it. We had to hit one of those shots. I think we had a couple at the rim and an open three. Maybe it is a different outcome maybe the momentum shifts to our side, but give Creighton credit. They played well. I liked their team a lot. They got shooting all across the board and great size. For us, there is going to be things we can build off of in this game. You always have to look for the positives. There is a lot of things that we need to correct."
On what the Huskers need to improve on
"The biggest thing is we have to come out and get off to better starts. We can not continue to dig ourselves a hole like that. It takes too much energy to get yourself out."
Senior guard Kobe Webster
On mentality of the team when down and spark to get back into it
"The key to the game was getting back in transition so the first 5-6 minutes that's really where a lot of their buckets came from. Once we cut that off and got moving on the offensive end, the ball started popping and we were able to get easy looks."
On individual impact on game
"I know what I'm capable of. Coach has confidence in me. He had the confidence to put me in the game so I'm not going to harp on any individual stats because the goal is to win. Like I said I know what I'm capable of and glad I could give a spark but I want to win."
On next step to get team back on track
"Stay me. Stay energized. Stay in guys' ear. I said this from day one. We talked about it that whether I'm on the bench or floor that I'm always going to be the loudest person. Like I said just stay me."
On managing after an emotional loss
"We said it multiple times. We have to flush away a win and flush away a loss. We got three games in six days so we have to start preparing for that and just get back to it."
Creighton Coach Greg McDermott
On the play of his point guards
"It's everything. It was good to have Shereef Mitchell back. It gives us another defender and another ballhandler and obviously he has some experience. Ryan (Nembhard) is a special player. He controls the tempo of the game for us. Defensively, he does a solid job and he distributes as well. He is hard on himself with those turnovers and that's something that he will get better at as he gets older. He is going to make me a great coach."
On Ryan Nembhard's performance
"That's pretty good poise and he has to guard a good player. Verge is in every ball screen and Webster came in and he's chasing him off-screen. He's got to exert energy on the defensive side. It's not like we hide him down there and save him for offense. He's got to play both ends of the floor, and he does it extremely well."
On if he could feel the momentum start to change
"The game was in the balance without question until the last minute or two. They went small so we went small. In some ways, that allows us to spread them out a little more. We can throw it to someone in the block and try and draw that double-team and make the extra pass. It's a lineup that we practice a little bit and that we want to use a little bit more as time goes on. We were a little handcuffed tonight because of Arthur's foul trouble, but he will be fresh on Friday."
Team Stats
CU
Nebr
FG%
.467
.371
3FG%
.435
.385
FT%
.550
.778
RB
50
36
TO
16
7
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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