Alex O’Connell’s 13 points led three Creighton players in double figures as the Bluejays outlasted Kennesaw State 51-44 on Thursday in Omaha, Neb.
Ryan Nembhard added 11 for the Bluejays (2-0) and Ryan Kalkbrenner chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds. Creighton won despite hitting just 38.5 percent of its field-goal attempts, going a dreadful 1 of 19 on 3-point tries, and making only 10 of 18 at the foul line.
Creighton was able to stifle the Owls (0-2), limiting them to 26.2 percent shooting from the field, including an awful 9 of 36 in the second half. Kennesaw State also made just 3 of 19 from 3-point range and was outrebounded 46-40.
Demond Robinson scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Owls, who trailed by 10 before rallying within 47-44 when Robinson put back a missed shot with 1:52 left in the game. Kennesaw State had a chance to tie on its next possession, but Spencer Rodgers’ contested 3-point shot rimmed in and out.
Creighton went inside to Ryan Hawkins, who converted a short jumper with 1:02 remaining to restore a five-point lead. Nembhard clinched the outcome by canning two foul shots with 20.6 seconds on the clock.
Looking to get off to a quicker start than it did Tuesday in a 90-77 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which established a 26-11 lead, Creighton hit five of its first eight shots and took a 10-3 advantage less than four minutes into the Thursday game.
Kennesaw State then applied the clamps to the Bluejays for the half’s remainder. Creighton managed just 12 points over the last 16-plus minutes, making only four of its last 21 shots in the half and mixing in seven turnovers.
The Owls finally took advantage of their good defense late in the half by rattling off seven straight points and taking a 24-20 edge on Rodgers’ pullup jumper at the 1:32 mark. Even though Trey Alexander responded with a driving layup, Creighton went into intermission trailing by two points.
–Field Level Media
