School basketball’s longest profitable streak got here to a screeching halt on Tuesday as No. 15 Creighton beat No. 1 UConn 85-66 behind an offensive barrage from the Bluejays. It was Creighton’s first-ever win over a top-ranked opponent in seven tries, and it ended a 14-game profitable streak for the Huskies, who’ve now misplaced 21 straight highway video games towards ranked groups.
Creighton (20-7, 11-5 Large East) constructed its result in 14 within the first half behind the new taking pictures of level guard Steven Ashworth. The Utah State switch scored 13 consecutive factors for the Bluejays throughout an 18-2 run late within the first half. The spurt featured three 3-pointers from Ashworth, who scored 18 of his team-high 20 earlier than halftime.
The Bluejays hit 8 of 15 from past the arc as a staff throughout the half whereas the Huskies (24-3, 14-2) made simply 1 of seven and dug themselves their deepest halftime gap of the season. Creighton prolonged its result in 23 within the second half earlier than the Huskies mounted a short rally highlighted by a Donovan Clingan dunk that introduced UConn inside 10 factors with a dunk on the 4:39 mark. However the Bluejays held the Huskies to simply 1 of 8 taking pictures from there to arrange a court-storming in facet the CHI Well being Middle.
When UConn beat Creighton 62-48 within the first assembly on Jan. 17, the Bluejays shot simply 34.6% from the ground, which is their worst mark towards a Large East foe this season. The Bluejays bought simply 5 factors from their bench in that loss. On Tuesday, they shot 54.7% from the ground, together with 14 of 28 from past the arc. Creighton additionally bought 14 factors from reserves Jasen Inexperienced and Francisco Farabello because it constructed an insurmountable benefit, regardless of a gradual begin for main scorer Baylor Scheierman.
Bracketology Implications
UConn entered because the projected No. 1 total seed for the NCAA Match in Jerry Palm’s Bracketology after overtaking Purdue for the honour following the Boilermakers’ loss at Ohio State on Sunday. The Huskies gave it proper again by stumbling at Creighton.
Purdue is returning to the projected No. 1 total seed spot, in accordance with Palm.
“UConn’s keep at No. 1 total within the projected NCAA Match bracket was short-lived,” Palm mentioned. “The Huskies’ loss to Creighton will drop them again behind Purdue to the second spot on the No. 1 line. The Boilermakers are again on high because the No. 1 total seed for a similar cause the NCAA Match choice committee put them there to start with – the depth and high quality of their wins.”
Creighton entered as a projected No. 4 seed, in accordance with Palm. That may be this system’s greatest seed since 2014. Beating the top-ranked Huskies will solely improve Creighton’s resume, which is highlighted by a 6-4 document in Quad 1 video games.
Creighton’s explosion
Creighton taking pictures is one of the best anybody has posted this season towards UConn, which entered ranked twelfth nationally in area purpose protection. Whereas Ashworth, Ryan Kalkbrenner and the bench led the early cost, the remainder of the starters carried their share of the load within the second half. Trey Alexander scored 9 of his 16 within the second half, and Scheierman scored 9 of his 12 factors within the last 6:21. Mason Miller scored all eight of his factors after halftime. It was a complete staff effort from the Blujays, who completed 14 of 28 from 3-point vary and dedicated simply seven turnovers.
UConn goes chilly
Creighton’s protection additionally deserves credit score for holding UConn to 3-of-16 taking pictures from 3-point vary. It was the fewest long-range makes in a sport this season for the Huskies, who completed with solely eight assists. Sometimes dependable exterior shooters Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban mixed to make simply 1 of 6 from 3-point vary, leaving Tristen Newton to hold a lot of the offensive load. It was an identical story in UConn’s final loss two months in the past, a 75-60 defeat at Seton Corridor to open Large East play. Karaban and Spencer mixed to shoot simply 1 for 11 from 3-point vary in that sport.
