Wednesday, January 11
Omaha, Neb.
8:00 PM
Creighton University
16-1, 4-1BE
75
vs
64
Butler
14-3, 3-2BE
1
2
F
#12 Butler
27
37
64
#8 Creighton
47
28
75
Khyri Thomas had 14 points and 12 rebounds on Wednesday.
Photo by: A.J. Olnes
#8 Men's Basketball Rolls Past #12 Butler, 75-64
1/11/2017 10:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bluejays open up 47-27 halftime lead and never look back
OMAHA, Neb. -- No. 8 Creighton opened up a 47-27 halftime lead and never looked back in an impressive 75-64 win over No. 12 Butler on Wednesday night before 18,032 fans at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Creighton (16-1, 4-1 BIG EAST) moved into a tie for first place in the BIG EAST with the victory, while Butler (14-3, 3-2 BIG EAST) lost for the first time this season in four games against top-10 competition.
Maurice Watson Jr. led Creighton with 21 points and seven assists, moving into the top-10 in Creighton history with 382 career assists. Khyri Thomas had 14 points and tied his career-high with 12 rebounds, while Cole Huff and Justin Patton each scored 10. The Bluejays shot 55.4 percent from the field to improve their nation-leading field goal percentage to 53.8 percent.
Butler was led by 14 points from Avery Woodson. Leading scorer Kelan Martin missed all eight shots in the first half and finished 3-of-14 overall, scoring a season-low seven points.
Tyler Lewis nailed a three-pointer on Butler's first possession, but it would be the only time all night the Bulldogs played with the lead after Creighton answered with the next seven points. The Bluejays went on an 11-2 run with points from five different men to push the lead to double-figures at 23-11, and the visiting Bulldogs never cut the margin to single-figures again.
Creighton closed the first half on a 13-4 binge, including three-pointers by Watson, Thomas and Zierden, to lead 47-27 at the half. The Bluejays shot 60 percent in the first 20 minutes.
Creighton took its largest lead of the evening at 25 (52-27) after two hoops from Thomas to open the scoring after the intermission. Butler got within 15 points with 8:45 to play, but would not get any closer until scoring the final six points over the last 85 seconds to account for the 75-64 final.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday at Noon when it hosts Truman State.
NOTES: Creighton was playing its first game in program history ranked eighth or higher in the Associated Press or USA Today Coaches Poll ... Creighton's 16-1 start matches its best ever after 17 games. It was also done in 2002-03 and in 2012-13 ... The win was Creighton's 25th ever against a top-25 team in the AP poll, and second this season ... This is the first time in program history Creighton has beaten the same ranked opponent in consecutive seasons ... Greg McDermott now owns seven wins over top-25 teams at Creighton, tying him for most in school history with his predecessor, Dana Altman ... Creighton is now 3-3 all-time at home against ranked teams when ranked itself, including a 2-1 mark this year ... Creighton has won four of its last five home games over ranked teams, and is 8-9 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha against ranked foes ... The crowd of 18,032 was Creighton's third straight sellout and the 18th largest in school history.
Creighton (16-1, 4-1 BIG EAST) moved into a tie for first place in the BIG EAST with the victory, while Butler (14-3, 3-2 BIG EAST) lost for the first time this season in four games against top-10 competition.
Maurice Watson Jr. led Creighton with 21 points and seven assists, moving into the top-10 in Creighton history with 382 career assists. Khyri Thomas had 14 points and tied his career-high with 12 rebounds, while Cole Huff and Justin Patton each scored 10. The Bluejays shot 55.4 percent from the field to improve their nation-leading field goal percentage to 53.8 percent.
Butler was led by 14 points from Avery Woodson. Leading scorer Kelan Martin missed all eight shots in the first half and finished 3-of-14 overall, scoring a season-low seven points.
Tyler Lewis nailed a three-pointer on Butler's first possession, but it would be the only time all night the Bulldogs played with the lead after Creighton answered with the next seven points. The Bluejays went on an 11-2 run with points from five different men to push the lead to double-figures at 23-11, and the visiting Bulldogs never cut the margin to single-figures again.
Creighton closed the first half on a 13-4 binge, including three-pointers by Watson, Thomas and Zierden, to lead 47-27 at the half. The Bluejays shot 60 percent in the first 20 minutes.
Creighton took its largest lead of the evening at 25 (52-27) after two hoops from Thomas to open the scoring after the intermission. Butler got within 15 points with 8:45 to play, but would not get any closer until scoring the final six points over the last 85 seconds to account for the 75-64 final.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday at Noon when it hosts Truman State.
NOTES: Creighton was playing its first game in program history ranked eighth or higher in the Associated Press or USA Today Coaches Poll ... Creighton's 16-1 start matches its best ever after 17 games. It was also done in 2002-03 and in 2012-13 ... The win was Creighton's 25th ever against a top-25 team in the AP poll, and second this season ... This is the first time in program history Creighton has beaten the same ranked opponent in consecutive seasons ... Greg McDermott now owns seven wins over top-25 teams at Creighton, tying him for most in school history with his predecessor, Dana Altman ... Creighton is now 3-3 all-time at home against ranked teams when ranked itself, including a 2-1 mark this year ... Creighton has won four of its last five home games over ranked teams, and is 8-9 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha against ranked foes ... The crowd of 18,032 was Creighton's third straight sellout and the 18th largest in school history.
Team Stats
BUTLER
CU
FG%
.413
.554
3FG%
.320
.304
FT%
.571
.857
RB
30
34
TO
11
17
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
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