Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
14-9, 5-6
Creighton
11-13, 2-9
Men's Basketball Falls, 79-72, to Creighton in Overtime
02.05.15 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2015
CINCINNATI - The Xavier men's basketball team fell, 79-72, to Creighton in overtime on Wednesday night. The loss to the Bluejays (11-13; 2-9 BIG EAST) marks the first home loss for the Musketeers (14-9; 5-6 BIG EAST) of the season, snapping an 11-game home winning streak.
Xavier opened with a 4-3 lead after scoring on its opening possession. Creighton responded with a 6-0 run, holding the Musketeers scoreless for five minutes to take the 9-4 lead. Three Bluejay turnovers led to seven straight Xavier points, allowing the Musketeers to retake the lead, 11-9, with just under 12 minutes remaining until the half.
After missing six of its first seven shots, Creighton hit seven of its next nine field goals to reclaim the advantage. The Bluejays, who lead the BIG EAST with an average of 8.0 three point shots per game, hit five of six from outside to start the game, pushing the CU lead out to as many as 10, 23-13, with 7:23 remaining in the first half.
Xavier used 12-of-15 shooting from the free throw line in the first half, including 6-of-6 from Jalen Reynolds, to climb back within three, 32-29, at halftime. Reynolds led the Musketeers with 10 points, two steals and a block in the first half.
Matt Stainbrook grabbed three rebounds to lead Xavier as Musketeers were outrebounded, 20-14, in the first half, including giving up six offensive rebounds that led to five second chance points for the Bluejays.
After trading baskets to open the second half, an 8-3 Xavier run, fueled by back-to-back threes from Remy Abell, helped the Musketeers retake the lead, 39-37, at the 16:14 mark, Xavier's first lead since taking the 11-2 advantage with 11:52 remaining in the first half.
The Musketeers held Creighton scoreless for over three minutes, while scoring 10 unanswered to take a seven point lead, 44-37, with 13:27 remaining in the game. The Bluejays responded with a 14-2 run to take a 51-46 lead into the final 10 minutes of the game.
Five points from Myles Davis helped the Musketeers score eight unanswered to retake the 54-51 lead with less than eight minute remaining in the game.
The Musketeers held on the advantage until Creighton's Rick Kreklow hit his fifth three pointer of the night to put the Bluejays up, 61-60, with less than three minutes to play. The Musketeers led by as many as three in the final two minutes of regulation, but Creighton responded to take the one point lead, 65-64, with 00:45 remaining. After a Dee Davis free throw tied the game, 65-65, Creighton had the ball with 35 seconds left. Jalen Reynolds' blocked the would-be go-ahead basket with 00:02 remaining, sending the game to overtime.
In the overtime period, Creighton led by as many as four, taking a 73-69 lead into the final 1:30 of the overtime period when a three pointer from Dee Davis cut the lead to one. The Bluejays went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 00:20 to seal the 79-72 win.
Reynolds matched his career high with 17 points and three blocks, had a career high three steals and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Abell shot 3-for-3 from outside in the second half to finish with 16 points. Dee Davis finished with 12 points and nine assists. Myles Davis added 11 points and Stainbrook finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Musketeers turned 17 Creighton turnovers into 22 points, to just nine second chance points for the Bluejays, but Creighton owned the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Musketeers, 41-32.
CU's Kreklow matched Reynolds' 17 for game-high. The Bluejay's Devin Brooks grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to go with 13 points for a double-double.
The Musketeers return to action this Saturday when Xavier hosts Providence at Cintas Center at 1:00 p.m. The game will be televised on FOX Sports 1 and a radio broadcast will be available from 700 WLW.
