Big East preseason participant of the yr Ryan Kalkbrenner scored a career-high 49 factors, and Fifteenth-ranked Creighton wanted practically all of them in a 99-86 season-opening win over UT- Rio Grande Valley Wednesday night.
Creighton, considered one of three Sweet 16 groups the final 4 seasons, could not shake the Southland Conference Vaqueros till the ultimate two minutes.
The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner’s scoring whole was the second-highest in program historical past behind Bob Portman’s 51 towards UW-Milwaukee in 1967. The fifth-year middle was an astonishing 20-of-22 from the sphere, together with 2 of two on 3-pointers and made 7 of 8 free throws. He additionally grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three photographs.
Steven Ashworth scored 25 factors for the Bluejays.
Hasan Abdul-Hakim had 24 factors and Cliff Davis and DK Thorn added 17 apiece for the Vaqueros (0-2), who have been inside 87-82 when Howie Fleming Jr. made a fifth-chance basket at 2:37 from the top.
Takeaway
UT Rio Grande Valley: The Vaqueros saved it shut by going 14 of 35 on 3-pointers and outscoring Creighton on the scoreboard within the second half. They completed with 19 second likelihood factors. According to Sportradar, they fell to 0-14 towards high 25 opponents and have misplaced 56 consecutive video games towards energy convention opponents.
Creighton: The Bluejays have been 30-point favorites, in accordance with BetMGM Sportsbook, and obtained greater than they bargained for towards the Vaqueros. Coach Greg McDermott was compelled to play his starters till the ultimate minute.
Ryan Kalkbrenner drops a 49-point double-double in Creighton’s 99-86 win over UTRGV
Key second
Kalkbrenner scored 10 consecutive factors in varied methods within the first half. He made a free throw, hit a 3 from the wing, dunked a lob from Jamiya Neal, beat his guard to the ground for a fast-break layup and confirmed off some publish strikes for a simple bucket.
Key statistic
Creighton gained its thirtieth consecutive residence recreation, a streak that started in 1995.
Next
Creighton hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday within the second of 4 residence video games in 11 days. UT-Rio Grande Valley returns residence to play Champion Christian College on Sunday.
Associated Press reporting.
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