Tuesday, February 9
CenturyLink Center Omaha
7:05 PM
Creighton University
16-9, 7-5BE
70
vs
56
Xavier
21-3, 9-3BE
1
2
F
#5 Xavier
27
29
56
Creighton
37
33
70
Photo by: Jim Rash
Watson's Career Night Leads Men's Basketball Past #5 Xavier
2/9/2016 8:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton takes down third top-10 team in last three years
OMAHA, Neb. -- Behind a career-high 32 points from Maurice Watson Jr., including 22 in the second half, the Creighton men's basketball team downed No. 5 Xavier 70-56 on Tuesday night before 17,011 fans at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
The Bluejays never trailed in game as Creighton moved to 16-9 on the season and 7-5 in BIG EAST play, while Xavier fell to 20-3 overall and 9-3 in conference action.
The victory was the Bluejays' first win over a team ranked in the top five since Jan. 20, 2014, when Creighton beat up No. 4 Villanova, 96-68. Creighton also moved to 4-28 all-time against teams in the top-five, three of those wins have come in Omaha.
Creighton blitzed the visitors in the opening eight minutes, racing to a 21-4 lead, capped by 16 straight points. The Bluejays flurry was fueled by a pair of three-pointers from both Isaiah Zierden and James Milliken as well as buckets by Zach Hanson and Watson. Creighton foul trouble allowed Xavier to draw within seven on two occasions in the first half, the last coming with 2:45 remaining at 32-25, but CU weathered the Musketeer run to take a 35-25 edge in at the half. Watson paced Creighton with 10 points and five assists at the break, and CU held Xavier's offense to 12-of-38 shooting overall and 1-of-12 marksmanship from long range.
The Bluejays opened the second half on an 8-0 run to claim their largest lead of the evening (45-27 with 16:11 left), Watson Jr. contributed five of those points. The 18-point edge prompted Xavier head coach Chris Mack to switch to a 1-3-1 zone defense and play two centers (Jalen Reynolds and James Farr) at same time. The Musketeers thrived with the big lineup, surging on a 19-6 spurt to close within five, 53-48 (6:51).
With the game on the line Watson Jr. put his Bluejay squad on his back with 10 of Creighton's next 12 points in the ensuing five minutes. With Watson Jr. leading the troops, Creighton salted the contest away by building a 66-53 advantage (2:02).
Watson Jr.'s 32 points not only led the Bluejays on Tuesday, but are the most points scored by a Creighton player this season. Cole Huff was the Bluejays' second leading scorer with 11. The Bluejays shot 40.7 percent overall (22-54), including 23.3 percent from downtown (7-30), while sinking 73.1 percent of its free throws (19-26).
Xavier got 17 from Reynolds and 14 from Farr. The Musketeers shot 30 percent from the field (21-70) and made 13-of-20 foul shots (65 percent). The Musketeers were just 1-of-21 from three-point range and won the rebound battle 46-44.
Creighton returns to the court on Saturday when it faces Marquette at 7:05 pm.
NOTES: Creighton now has three wins over top-10 foes in the last three years, after just five previous such wins in program history ... Greg McDermott now owns five wins over top-25 teams at Creighton, tied for second-most in program history with Eddie Sutton. Only Dana Altman (7) has more ... Creighton improved to 23-131 all-time vs. top-25 teams, and is 2-5 this year vs. ranked foes ... Isaiah Zierden has now made at least one three-pointer in 13 straight games .. Creighton has won 29 straight games in which a player has 31 points or more ... Maurice Watson Jr. led Creighton in assists in each of the last 15 games, including tonight with five helpers ... Creighton has not trailed in either of its last two home wins, and eight of 15 home games this season. Creighton hasn't trailed in 60 of its 218 all-time games at CenturyLink Center Omaha ... This was the first of seven all-time meetings in Omaha decided by more than seven points ...Creighton's James Milliken had nine points, three rebounds and two blocks in his first start of the year, replacing Khyri Thomas in the line-up.
The Bluejays never trailed in game as Creighton moved to 16-9 on the season and 7-5 in BIG EAST play, while Xavier fell to 20-3 overall and 9-3 in conference action.
The victory was the Bluejays' first win over a team ranked in the top five since Jan. 20, 2014, when Creighton beat up No. 4 Villanova, 96-68. Creighton also moved to 4-28 all-time against teams in the top-five, three of those wins have come in Omaha.
Creighton blitzed the visitors in the opening eight minutes, racing to a 21-4 lead, capped by 16 straight points. The Bluejays flurry was fueled by a pair of three-pointers from both Isaiah Zierden and James Milliken as well as buckets by Zach Hanson and Watson. Creighton foul trouble allowed Xavier to draw within seven on two occasions in the first half, the last coming with 2:45 remaining at 32-25, but CU weathered the Musketeer run to take a 35-25 edge in at the half. Watson paced Creighton with 10 points and five assists at the break, and CU held Xavier's offense to 12-of-38 shooting overall and 1-of-12 marksmanship from long range.
The Bluejays opened the second half on an 8-0 run to claim their largest lead of the evening (45-27 with 16:11 left), Watson Jr. contributed five of those points. The 18-point edge prompted Xavier head coach Chris Mack to switch to a 1-3-1 zone defense and play two centers (Jalen Reynolds and James Farr) at same time. The Musketeers thrived with the big lineup, surging on a 19-6 spurt to close within five, 53-48 (6:51).
With the game on the line Watson Jr. put his Bluejay squad on his back with 10 of Creighton's next 12 points in the ensuing five minutes. With Watson Jr. leading the troops, Creighton salted the contest away by building a 66-53 advantage (2:02).
Watson Jr.'s 32 points not only led the Bluejays on Tuesday, but are the most points scored by a Creighton player this season. Cole Huff was the Bluejays' second leading scorer with 11. The Bluejays shot 40.7 percent overall (22-54), including 23.3 percent from downtown (7-30), while sinking 73.1 percent of its free throws (19-26).
Xavier got 17 from Reynolds and 14 from Farr. The Musketeers shot 30 percent from the field (21-70) and made 13-of-20 foul shots (65 percent). The Musketeers were just 1-of-21 from three-point range and won the rebound battle 46-44.
Creighton returns to the court on Saturday when it faces Marquette at 7:05 pm.
NOTES: Creighton now has three wins over top-10 foes in the last three years, after just five previous such wins in program history ... Greg McDermott now owns five wins over top-25 teams at Creighton, tied for second-most in program history with Eddie Sutton. Only Dana Altman (7) has more ... Creighton improved to 23-131 all-time vs. top-25 teams, and is 2-5 this year vs. ranked foes ... Isaiah Zierden has now made at least one three-pointer in 13 straight games .. Creighton has won 29 straight games in which a player has 31 points or more ... Maurice Watson Jr. led Creighton in assists in each of the last 15 games, including tonight with five helpers ... Creighton has not trailed in either of its last two home wins, and eight of 15 home games this season. Creighton hasn't trailed in 60 of its 218 all-time games at CenturyLink Center Omaha ... This was the first of seven all-time meetings in Omaha decided by more than seven points ...Creighton's James Milliken had nine points, three rebounds and two blocks in his first start of the year, replacing Khyri Thomas in the line-up.
Team Stats
XU
CU
FG%
.300
.407
3FG%
.048
.233
FT%
.650
.731
RB
46
44
TO
11
15
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
32
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
9
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballMeet 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
