Monday, November 22
U.S. Virgin Islands
4:45 PM
Creighton University
5-1,0-0Big East
66
vs
64
Southern Illinois
2-3,0-0MVC
1
2
F
Creighton
32
34
66
Southern Illinois
28
36
64
Ryan Nembhard
Nembhard's Buzzer-Beater Stuns Salukis in Paradise Jam Finale
11/22/2021 6:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton uses game-ending 12-2 run to win
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Ryan Nembhard's 10-foot floater at the buzzer capped a game-ending 12-2 run in the final 3:51 as Creighton men's basketball defeated Southern Illinois, 66-64, in the third-place game of the 2021 Paradise Jam.
The Jays got a huge four-point possession out of the final media timeout to begin their late push. Nembhard made a free throw attempt coming out of the media timeout but missed his second try. Ryan Hawkins would tip the miss into the backcourt and the Jays would end up with a three-ball by Alex O'Connell to narrow the gap to 62-58. Kalkbrenner followed with consecutive dunks to tie the game at 62 with 2:11 to play. Following another Saluki turnover, the Jays found Kalkbrenner for a lob as CU went ahead 64-62 with 1:38 to go.
Neither team scored again until Marcus Domask hit a baseline jumper from 14 feet to beat the shot clock and tie the game with 5.2 seconds left, setting the stage for Nembhard's heroics after a Bluejay timeout.
Creighton took a 32-28 halftime lead in a close game that neither team own a lead of more than four points. The Bluejays got a nice lift from KeyShawn Feazell, who made 4-of-5 shots and shared scoring honors with nine points with Ryan Nembhard. It was Nembhard's floater to beat the halftime buzzer that gave CU a four-point cushion at the break. Lance Jones led SIU with nine points in the first half while also adding six rebounds.
CU got its transition game going early in the second half, starting the second half on a 7-0 run with each of those points being credited as points in transition. The Salukis countered with nine points in a row to tie the game at 39 with 12:14 left, then took the lead at 45-44 on a dunk in transition by Ben Coupet Jr. with 10:31 to play.
The Salukis locked up the Bluejays on the defensive end to take a 62-54 lead with 4:03 left, matching its largest advantage of the game, after a lay-up by reserve guard Dalton Banks.
Creighton's "Ryan Express" combined for 39 points to lead the Bluejays, as Kalkbrenner (14), Hawkins (13) and Nembhard (12) all scored in double-figures. Nembhard also led CU with five assists and four steals, while Kalkbrenner rejected a career-high five shots. CU made 10-of-11 free throws for a season-best 90.9 percent at the line.
SIU was paced by 14 points each from Domask and Lance Jones, and Jones also added nine rebounds.
Both teams shot exactly 25-for-51 from the floor (49 percent) and grabbed 26 rebounds.
Creighton returns to the mainland on Tuesday to prep for Saturday's 5 p.m. game vs. SIU Edwardsville.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner's five blocked shots were the most by a Bluejay since Jacob Epperson's in the 2018 BIG EAST Tournament title game ... Creighton has made a three-pointer in 919 straight games, and 290 consecutive contests with a trey before halftime ... Creighton and Southern Illinois were meeting for the first time since 2013, when the Bluejays belonged to the Missouri Valley Conference ... John Christofilis registered his first career points with a three-pointer with roughly 11 minutes remaining in the second half ... Creighton has won 12 straight meetings against SIU and is 7-0 all-time on neutral floors against the Salukis ... Since the 2002 MVC Tournament final, Creighton is 12-0 against Southern Illinois when scoring 70 points or more, but 4-10 when scoring less than 70 against the Salukis ... Creighton is now 34-7 under Greg McDermott in preseason tournaments ...Ryan Nembhard's shot was Creighton's first game-winner with no time remaining since Booker Woodfox beat Wichita State in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals on March 6, 2009 ... Ryan Nembhard was named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team after averaging 12.3 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds in three games. He was joined on the team by Colorado's Evan Battey, Southern Illinois' Lance Jones, Northeastern's Shaquille Walters, Colorado State's Isaiah Stevens and Tournament MVP David Roddy of Colorado State.
The Jays got a huge four-point possession out of the final media timeout to begin their late push. Nembhard made a free throw attempt coming out of the media timeout but missed his second try. Ryan Hawkins would tip the miss into the backcourt and the Jays would end up with a three-ball by Alex O'Connell to narrow the gap to 62-58. Kalkbrenner followed with consecutive dunks to tie the game at 62 with 2:11 to play. Following another Saluki turnover, the Jays found Kalkbrenner for a lob as CU went ahead 64-62 with 1:38 to go.
Neither team scored again until Marcus Domask hit a baseline jumper from 14 feet to beat the shot clock and tie the game with 5.2 seconds left, setting the stage for Nembhard's heroics after a Bluejay timeout.
Creighton took a 32-28 halftime lead in a close game that neither team own a lead of more than four points. The Bluejays got a nice lift from KeyShawn Feazell, who made 4-of-5 shots and shared scoring honors with nine points with Ryan Nembhard. It was Nembhard's floater to beat the halftime buzzer that gave CU a four-point cushion at the break. Lance Jones led SIU with nine points in the first half while also adding six rebounds.
CU got its transition game going early in the second half, starting the second half on a 7-0 run with each of those points being credited as points in transition. The Salukis countered with nine points in a row to tie the game at 39 with 12:14 left, then took the lead at 45-44 on a dunk in transition by Ben Coupet Jr. with 10:31 to play.
The Salukis locked up the Bluejays on the defensive end to take a 62-54 lead with 4:03 left, matching its largest advantage of the game, after a lay-up by reserve guard Dalton Banks.
Creighton's "Ryan Express" combined for 39 points to lead the Bluejays, as Kalkbrenner (14), Hawkins (13) and Nembhard (12) all scored in double-figures. Nembhard also led CU with five assists and four steals, while Kalkbrenner rejected a career-high five shots. CU made 10-of-11 free throws for a season-best 90.9 percent at the line.
SIU was paced by 14 points each from Domask and Lance Jones, and Jones also added nine rebounds.
Both teams shot exactly 25-for-51 from the floor (49 percent) and grabbed 26 rebounds.
Creighton returns to the mainland on Tuesday to prep for Saturday's 5 p.m. game vs. SIU Edwardsville.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner's five blocked shots were the most by a Bluejay since Jacob Epperson's in the 2018 BIG EAST Tournament title game ... Creighton has made a three-pointer in 919 straight games, and 290 consecutive contests with a trey before halftime ... Creighton and Southern Illinois were meeting for the first time since 2013, when the Bluejays belonged to the Missouri Valley Conference ... John Christofilis registered his first career points with a three-pointer with roughly 11 minutes remaining in the second half ... Creighton has won 12 straight meetings against SIU and is 7-0 all-time on neutral floors against the Salukis ... Since the 2002 MVC Tournament final, Creighton is 12-0 against Southern Illinois when scoring 70 points or more, but 4-10 when scoring less than 70 against the Salukis ... Creighton is now 34-7 under Greg McDermott in preseason tournaments ...Ryan Nembhard's shot was Creighton's first game-winner with no time remaining since Booker Woodfox beat Wichita State in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals on March 6, 2009 ... Ryan Nembhard was named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team after averaging 12.3 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds in three games. He was joined on the team by Colorado's Evan Battey, Southern Illinois' Lance Jones, Northeastern's Shaquille Walters, Colorado State's Isaiah Stevens and Tournament MVP David Roddy of Colorado State.
Team Stats
CU
SIU
FG%
.490
.490
3FG%
.429
.357
FT%
.909
.900
RB
26
26
TO
12
12
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballCreighton Men's Basketball Availability - 9/24/25
Wednesday, September 24
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
