Creighton University
Arkansas-Little Rock
Men's Basketball Too Much For UALR In 80-61 Win
12/22/2007 5:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. - Dane Watts had 20 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, leading the Creighton men's basketball team to an 80-61 win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday. The win propels the Bluejays into next Saturday's MVC opener against Illinois State with a 9-1 record, while UALR had a seven-game win streak snapped to fall to 9-2.
UALR entered the game ranked among the top-10 nationally in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, but it was the Bluejays that stifled the visitors early on. The Trojans did not have a field goal in the first 7:51 and fell behind 20-7 before its second basket with 9:24 to play in the first half.
The Bluejays steadily built their lead throughout the first half, and Nick Bahe drained a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to give CU its largest lead at 42-25.
Bluejay point guard Josh Dotzler stole the ball from UALR guard Brandon Patterson just seven ticks into the second half and hit two free throws to give CU its first 20-point lead at 45-25. It was one of Dotzler's career-high-tying five thefts on the afternoon. Creighton's lead got up to 23 on four different occasions before finally settling for the 19-point win.
Watts notched his fifth career double-double and first of the winter with 20 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high three blocked shots in just 22 minutes of action. The only other Bluejay in double-figures was P'Allen Stinnett, whose 11 points included a monster alley-oop in transition off a steal by fellow freshman Kaleb Korver.
CU made 42.6 percent of its shots from the floor and also made 28-of-33 shots from the line in a game that featured a combined 48 fouls and 57 free-throw attempts. The Jays turned UALR over 21 times and turned that into 33 points, while also outscoring the Trojan bench 39-14.
UALR was led by 19 points from De'Andre Eggins. Terrance Akins also scored 16 points in the setback. UALR shot 40 percent from the floor and three-point line and hit 19-of-24 free throws.
Creighton hosts Illinois State in the MVC opener for both teams next Saturday (Dec. 29) at Qwest Center Omaha. The game can be heard on KXSP (Big Sports 590 AM) and will be televised on Fox Sports Net Midwest.
NOTES: Creighton improved to 18-0 all-time at Qwest Center Omaha against teams that enter a game with zero or one losses ...Creighton improved to 8-0 at home ...Creighton beat UALR 91-66 on Dec. 20, 2003 in the only previous meeting between the school's ...Chad Millard had a career-high eight rebounds ...UALR did not have a first-half assist.
