Trey Alexander hit a 12-foot step back shot with 0.2 seconds remaining and No. 10 Creighton built a 24-point lead and held on for a 69-67 victory over host Villanova on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Baylor Scheierman led the Bluejays (23-8, 14-6 Big East) with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Alexander scored 17 points and Ryan Kalkbrenner had 14 points and two blocked shots.
Creighton earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big East tournament.
Eric Dixon led Villanova with 25 points and tied the game at 67 after being fouled on a 3-pointer and hitting three free throws with 23.6 seconds left.
Justin Moore added 17 for the Wildcats (17-14, 10-10).
TJ Bamba scored with 8:02 left and Villanova trailed 59-49.
The Bluejays scored the next four points to go back ahead by 14 with 6:14 remaining.
Dixon hit a 3-pointer and a jump hook, Mark Armstrong hit a runner in the lane, added another layup and Villanova sliced the deficit to 63-59 with 3:24 left.
Villanova then got within 65-64 with 1:32 left following a 3-pointer by Moore.
Kalkbrenner came back with an offensive rebound and dunk for a 67-64 advantage with 1:05 remaining.
Creighton opened the game with a 12-0 run. Another 12-0 spurt propelled the Bluejays to a 24-3 lead with 13:42 left.
When Scheierman knocked down a 3-pointer with 12:04 remaining, Creighton held a 30-8 advantage. After yet another empty Villanova possession, Kalkbrenner scored in the lane for a 24-point lead.
Dixon hit a 3-pointer with 7:47 left, but the Wildcats still trailed 32-11.
That started a 16-2 run and Villanova closed within 34-24 after Armstrong’s layup with 3:17 to go.
The Bluejays led 40-29 at halftime thanks in large part to 11 points from Scheierman.
Dixon paced the Wildcats with 12.
Moore opened the second half with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to eight.
Creighton pulled out to a 50-38 lead with 14:29 remaining after Miller hit a 3-pointer from the corner.
Dixon responded with a trey on Villanova’s next possession.
Creighton led 59-45 with 9:05 left after Kalkbrenner rolled to the basket, received a crisp pass and scored.
–Field Level Media
