Wednesday, February 5
Providence, R.I.
7:30 PM
Creighton University
17-6,10-2Big East
80
at
69
Providence
11-12,5-7Big East
1
2
F
Creighton
40
40
80
Providence
39
30
69
Photo by: Justin Kreutzian
Kalkbrenner Takes Over As Men's Basketball Wins at Providence
2/5/2025 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year has 35 points and 12 rebounds
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner had 35 points and 12 rebounds to lead Creighton men's basketball to an 80-69 win at Providence on Wednesday night. Kalkbrenner's output was the second-highest scoring output of his career, trailing only his 49 points in the season-opener vs. UTRGV.
Creighton improved to 17-6 with its eighth straight win, moving into sole possession of second place in the BIG EAST with a 10-2 league mark. CU's eight straight league wins tie a program record since joining the BIG EAST in 2013. Providence dropped to 11-12 and is now 5-7 in BIG EAST action.
The first half featured five ties and nine lead changes, with seniors Kalkbrenner (15) and Steven Ashworth (13) combining for 28 of CU's final 34 points en route to a 40-39 lead at the break. Kalkbrenner scored CU's final 10 points before the break, including a pair of dunks, a three-pointer and four free throws. CU committed just one turnover before the break. Jayden Pierre had 10 points and five assists before the break to pace PC. The Friars, who shot 4-for-20 from three-point range in Omaha, made 7-of-12 shots from distance in the first half on Wednesday evening.
With Creighton clinging to a 64-63 lead, Kalkbrenner buried a three-pointer before hammering home his fifth dunk of the game to give CU a 69-63 lead. Though PC answered with a three-pointer by Rich Barron, Kalkbrenner put in another lay-up before a triple from Ashworth gave CU a 74-66 lead.
Following the final media timeout Providence guard Bensley Joseph knocked down a triple, but Kalkbrenner made a pair at the line to put CU up 76-69 with 2:48 left. Jamiya Neal then finished a lay-up in transition and made two free throws with 1:02 remaining as CU's lead grew to 80-69.
Kalkbrenner had 35 points and 12 rebounds, while Ashworth accounted for 23 points. Creighton made 18-of-21 free throws and tied the rebound battle, 39-39.
Corey Floyd Jr. had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double, and Pierre added 14 points.
Creighton is back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts No. 11 Marquette.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner made his 125th career start ... Kalkbrenner picked up Creighton's first technical foul since Jan. 13, 2024 when Baylor Scheierman had one … Kalkbrenner is the second Creighton player with multiple games of 20 points & 10 rebounds against the same opponent in the same season since 2015. Baylor Scheierman did it last year against both Butler and Seton Hall ... Steven Ashworth made a three-pointer in his 41st straight game, seven shy of the school-record … Creighton's 10-2 BIG EAST start matches the 2013-14 squad for its best mark ever after 12 BIG EAST games … Creighton clinched a .500 or better record in league play for the 29th time in the last 30 seasons, and 10th consecutive campaign … Creighton's eight straight league wins ties its longest streak ever in BIG EAST play … Creighton's five straight conference road wins are its longest streak since 2011-12 … Creighton snapped a three-game losing streak in Friartown with its first road win at Providence since Jan. 2, 2021 … Creighton has won two regular-season road wins against Providence for the first time since 2018-19 … Creighton is the fifth team in the last 32 seasons to win at Connecticut, Providence and Villanova in the same season … Creighton is now 17-3 in its last 20 BIG EAST games.
Creighton improved to 17-6 with its eighth straight win, moving into sole possession of second place in the BIG EAST with a 10-2 league mark. CU's eight straight league wins tie a program record since joining the BIG EAST in 2013. Providence dropped to 11-12 and is now 5-7 in BIG EAST action.
The first half featured five ties and nine lead changes, with seniors Kalkbrenner (15) and Steven Ashworth (13) combining for 28 of CU's final 34 points en route to a 40-39 lead at the break. Kalkbrenner scored CU's final 10 points before the break, including a pair of dunks, a three-pointer and four free throws. CU committed just one turnover before the break. Jayden Pierre had 10 points and five assists before the break to pace PC. The Friars, who shot 4-for-20 from three-point range in Omaha, made 7-of-12 shots from distance in the first half on Wednesday evening.
With Creighton clinging to a 64-63 lead, Kalkbrenner buried a three-pointer before hammering home his fifth dunk of the game to give CU a 69-63 lead. Though PC answered with a three-pointer by Rich Barron, Kalkbrenner put in another lay-up before a triple from Ashworth gave CU a 74-66 lead.
Following the final media timeout Providence guard Bensley Joseph knocked down a triple, but Kalkbrenner made a pair at the line to put CU up 76-69 with 2:48 left. Jamiya Neal then finished a lay-up in transition and made two free throws with 1:02 remaining as CU's lead grew to 80-69.
Kalkbrenner had 35 points and 12 rebounds, while Ashworth accounted for 23 points. Creighton made 18-of-21 free throws and tied the rebound battle, 39-39.
Corey Floyd Jr. had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double, and Pierre added 14 points.
Creighton is back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts No. 11 Marquette.
NOTES: Ryan Kalkbrenner made his 125th career start ... Kalkbrenner picked up Creighton's first technical foul since Jan. 13, 2024 when Baylor Scheierman had one … Kalkbrenner is the second Creighton player with multiple games of 20 points & 10 rebounds against the same opponent in the same season since 2015. Baylor Scheierman did it last year against both Butler and Seton Hall ... Steven Ashworth made a three-pointer in his 41st straight game, seven shy of the school-record … Creighton's 10-2 BIG EAST start matches the 2013-14 squad for its best mark ever after 12 BIG EAST games … Creighton clinched a .500 or better record in league play for the 29th time in the last 30 seasons, and 10th consecutive campaign … Creighton's eight straight league wins ties its longest streak ever in BIG EAST play … Creighton's five straight conference road wins are its longest streak since 2011-12 … Creighton snapped a three-game losing streak in Friartown with its first road win at Providence since Jan. 2, 2021 … Creighton has won two regular-season road wins against Providence for the first time since 2018-19 … Creighton is the fifth team in the last 32 seasons to win at Connecticut, Providence and Villanova in the same season … Creighton is now 17-3 in its last 20 BIG EAST games.
Keep going ??
?? Recap at Providence#GoJays pic.twitter.com/xOM17cOS5k
— Creighton Men's Basketball (@BluejayMBB) February 8, 2025
Team Stats
CU
PROV
FG%
.415
.409
3FG%
.258
.423
FT%
.857
.667
RB
39
39
TO
6
10
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
35
FGM
13
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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