Men's Basketball Falls at No. 13 Creighton in First Setback of Season

Wednesday, December 23

Omaha, Neb.

3 p.m.

Xavier University

8-1,1-1Big East

Creighton

7-2,3-1Big East

Xavier

Creighton

Photo by: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Men's Basketball Falls at No. 13 Creighton in First Setback of Season

12.23.20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

Musketeers jump out to early lead, have shot in final seconds to tie but fall short 66-61

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

OMAHA, Neb. - No. 22 Xavier took the No. 13 Creighton Bluejays down to the wire, but were unable to edge in front at the end, falling 66-61 in Omaha, the Musketeers' first loss of the 2020-21 season. Xavier moves to 8-1 overall and 1-1 in BIG EAST play while the Bluejays move to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in conference action.

The Musketeers will return to action on Wednesday, December 30 when the Musketeers host Seton Hall at 7:00 p.m.

FIRST HALF

• After the Bluejays hit a three to open the game, the Musketeers put together a 17-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 17-5 lead. The Musketeers led by as many as 13, 22-9, in the first 10 minutes of the game.

• Xavier continued its hot shooting from outside to open the game, hitting on four of its first six threes to help build its early lead before cooling off to finish the half at 6-of-16 from outside.

• After Xavier went ahead by 13, the Bluejays chipped away at the lead over the next six minutes, getting it down to a two-possession game, 31-27, with just under six minutes to play. Creighton closed the half on a 12-3 run to take the lead into the break, 36-34.

• Nate Johnson led the Musketeers with eight points after hitting a pair of early threes. KyKy Tandy had six on a pair of outside shots and Paul Scruggs added five.

• Xavier trailed 23-20 on rebounds at the break, led by four Bryan Griffin. Three Xavier big men, Freemantle, Carter and Griffin, were limited by a pair of fouls each in the first half.

SECOND HALF

• Creighton opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 10-point lead, its largest of the game. The Bluejays maintained the multiple-possession lead for the first eight minutes of the half when six-straight Xavier points, including back-to-back baskets for Zach Freemantle pulled the Musketeers within three, 49-46.

• In the final nine minutes of the game, the Musketeers would keep it within six points, pulling as close as one, 57-56, with less than four to play, but were unable to take the lead.

• In the final seconds, Xavier trailed 64-61 after a Paul Scruggs three, and a CU turnover gave Adam Kunkel a look at a three pointer to tie with less than 10 seconds to play, but the shot rimmed out. Creighton hit a pair of subsequent free throws to set the final score at 66-61 in favor of the Bluejays.

• Paul Scruggs and Ben Stanley each scored six points in the second half to lead the way for the Musketeers after the break.

• Xavier matched Creighton with 22 boards after the break, led by four each for Colby Jones and Zach Freemantle.

NOTABLES

• Nate Johnson led the Musketeers with 12 points. Paul Scruggs added 11, going 3-of-5 from three.

• Ben Stanley scored his first points as a Musketeer in the first half and finished the day with nine points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor.

• Colby Jones led the Musketeers with six rebounds as CU out-rebounded the Musketeers 45-42.

• Both teams finished shooting 35 percent from the floor, with each squad hitting eight threes. Creighton outscored Xavier 14-5 at the free throw line.

• The loss was Xavier's first of the season, ending the Musketeers' best unbeaten streak to start the season since starting the 2015-16 season at 12-0.

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