No. 15 Creighton takes down No. 1 UConn

Field Level Media|published: Tue 20th February, 23:17 2024

Feb 20, 2024; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Steven Ashworth (1) reacts after making a three point basket against the Connecticut Huskies in the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha. credits: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Steven Ashworth scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half and added seven rebounds as No. 15 Creighton thumped No. 1 UConn 85-66 in Omaha, Neb., on Tuesday night to end the Huskies' 14-game winning streak.

Trey Alexander scored 16 points and Ryan Kalkbrenner added 15 as Creighton (20-7, 11-5 Big East) ran its winning streak to four games, while matching its longest run of victories in conference play.

The Bluejays shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the first half (53.3 percent from 3-point range) and 54.7 percent in the game (50 percent from distance). The efficient night came as Creighton leading scorer Baylor Scheierman went scoreless in the first half and finished with 12 points.

The Bluejays earned a victory over a No. 1-ranked team for the first time in program history after losing the first six opportunities.

Tristen Newton scored 27 points with 12 rebounds and Donovan Clingan added 12 points as UConn (24-3, 14-2) was upended one game after tying the longest all-time winning streak in Big East play. Stephon Castle scored 10 points as the Huskies lost for the first time Dec. 20.

UConn not only fell to 0-4 all-time at Creighton, it gave up 43 points before halftime after surrendering only 48 overall in beating the Bluejays in mid-January.

UConn actually led 7-0 after the opening 1:29 of the game. The Bluejays finally moved in front at 24-23 with 8:09 remaining in the first half. That began an 18-2 run and sent them to a 39-25 lead with 3:34 remaining before the break.

Ashworth had the final 13 points of the burst and went 4 of 8 from 3-point range in the half.

Creighton took its first 20-point lead at 51-31 with 17:54 remaining after a 3-pointer from Mason Miller, and went up 69-46 with 10:18 left after a 3-pointer from Jasen Green, who finished with eight points.

UConn used an 18-5 run to pull within 74-64 with 4:39 remaining but went five consecutive possessions without points as Creighton took an 81-64 lead with 2:10 remaining and closed out the victory.

—Field Level Media

Latest