Tuesday, March 15
8:00 PM
Creighton University
19-14
72
vs
54
Alabama
18-15
1
2
F
Alabama
19
35
54
Creighton
30
42
72
Maurice Watson Jr.
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Men's Basketball Rolls Past Crimson Tide in NIT Opener, 72-54
3/15/2016 10:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton wins a game in its eighth straight postseason appearance
OMAHA, Neb. -- Fourth-seeded Creighton opened up the 2016 National Invitation Tournament with a 72-54 win over fifth-seeded Alabama on Tuesday night at CenturyLink Center Omaha. The win was Creighton's first at home over an SEC team since a 1940 win over Kentucky.
Maurice Watson Jr. had 20 points, while Geoffrey Groselle extended his career with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for CU.
Creighton (19-14) will meet the winner of Wednesday's game between St. Bonaventure and Wagner at a day, time and site to be announced. Alabama had its season end with an 18-15 mark, the second time in five seasons that CU has beaten the Crimson Tide in the postseason (also 2012 NCAA's).
After the teams played even for much of the first 11 minutes, Creighton took over and never trailed again. With Watson and Khyri Thomas on the bench with two fouls, Bluejays used a 10-3 run to close the first half with a 30-19 lead over the Crimson Tide, holding UA to 24.1 percent shooting from the field in the first 20 minutes.
The onslaught continued early in the second half, as Creighton opened the frame with an 11-4 run to quickly extend the margin to 41-23 with 15:28 to play. Alabama responded to draw within 10 on a pair of occasions in the final six minutes, only to see CU pull away each time.
Watson, the only Bluejay with previous NIT experience, led CU with 20 points and moved into second in CU single-season history in assists with 212 overall. Groselle had 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Thomas returned to the starting line-up and had his best all-around game since December. Thomas had 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals in place of injured Isaiah Zierden.
Creighton shot 48.3 percent from the field, including 35.7 percent from the line and were also 75.0 percent at the line. The Bluejays outrebounded Alabama 45-32 overall and turned 15 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points. The Bluejays outscored UA 38-16 in the paint.
Alabama was paced by 18 points from Justin Coleman, who helped spark a 32-13 advantage in bench points for the visitors. All-SEC guard Retin Obasohan was held to two points in the first half and had just 13 overall on 3-of-10 shooting.
NOTES: The win was the eighth postseason victory on the Creighton sideline for Greg McDermott, breaking a tie with Dana Altman (7) for most in program history ... Creighton improved to 6-10 all-time in its 11th NIT appearance, and has now won at least one game in each of its last eight appearances in the postseason ... Creighton has won nine of its last 10 postseason home games, and are 8-3 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha in the postseason ... Geoffrey Groselle's double-double was the fourth of his season and career. His previous high in rebounds was 12 ... Among those in attendance was junior welterweight champion Terence "Bud" Crawford, an Omaha native who wore Creighton gear into the ring his most recent fight at Madison Square Garden Theater last month ... Greg McDermott improved to 48-4 in non-conference home games as Creighton coach with the win.
Maurice Watson Jr. had 20 points, while Geoffrey Groselle extended his career with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for CU.
Creighton (19-14) will meet the winner of Wednesday's game between St. Bonaventure and Wagner at a day, time and site to be announced. Alabama had its season end with an 18-15 mark, the second time in five seasons that CU has beaten the Crimson Tide in the postseason (also 2012 NCAA's).
After the teams played even for much of the first 11 minutes, Creighton took over and never trailed again. With Watson and Khyri Thomas on the bench with two fouls, Bluejays used a 10-3 run to close the first half with a 30-19 lead over the Crimson Tide, holding UA to 24.1 percent shooting from the field in the first 20 minutes.
The onslaught continued early in the second half, as Creighton opened the frame with an 11-4 run to quickly extend the margin to 41-23 with 15:28 to play. Alabama responded to draw within 10 on a pair of occasions in the final six minutes, only to see CU pull away each time.
Watson, the only Bluejay with previous NIT experience, led CU with 20 points and moved into second in CU single-season history in assists with 212 overall. Groselle had 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Thomas returned to the starting line-up and had his best all-around game since December. Thomas had 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals in place of injured Isaiah Zierden.
Creighton shot 48.3 percent from the field, including 35.7 percent from the line and were also 75.0 percent at the line. The Bluejays outrebounded Alabama 45-32 overall and turned 15 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points. The Bluejays outscored UA 38-16 in the paint.
Alabama was paced by 18 points from Justin Coleman, who helped spark a 32-13 advantage in bench points for the visitors. All-SEC guard Retin Obasohan was held to two points in the first half and had just 13 overall on 3-of-10 shooting.
NOTES: The win was the eighth postseason victory on the Creighton sideline for Greg McDermott, breaking a tie with Dana Altman (7) for most in program history ... Creighton improved to 6-10 all-time in its 11th NIT appearance, and has now won at least one game in each of its last eight appearances in the postseason ... Creighton has won nine of its last 10 postseason home games, and are 8-3 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha in the postseason ... Geoffrey Groselle's double-double was the fourth of his season and career. His previous high in rebounds was 12 ... Among those in attendance was junior welterweight champion Terence "Bud" Crawford, an Omaha native who wore Creighton gear into the ring his most recent fight at Madison Square Garden Theater last month ... Greg McDermott improved to 48-4 in non-conference home games as Creighton coach with the win.
Team Stats
UA
CU
FG%
.283
.483
3FG%
.258
.357
FT%
.800
.750
RB
32
45
TO
12
14
STL
12
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
C
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