Ryan Kalkbrenner scores 28, No. 19 Creighton snaps skid with 78-71 win at Xavier

Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 28 factors to steer No. 19 Creighton over Xavier 78-71 on Saturday.

Baylor Scheierman scored 16 factors for the Bluejays (17-7, 8-5 Big East), who averted their first three-game Large East shedding streak since 2019.

It was a missed alternative for the Musketeers (13-11, 7-6), who had received three straight video games to revive their NCAA Event hopes.

Desmond Claude scored 22 factors and Dayvion McKnight had 21 factors for Xavier.

Creighton missed its first eight 3-point makes an attempt, however completed the primary half on a 12-2 run and led by 9 factors at halftime. Kalkbrenner had 14 factors within the half. Creighton completed the sport 7-of-28 on 3’s.

The Musketeers went scoreless for the ultimate three minutes of the primary half. That drought continued till Quincy Olivari hit a 3-pointer with 18:11 left within the second.

For the reason that groups joined the Large East in 2013, 18 of their 26 conferences have been determined by eight factors or much less with two video games going to extra time.

Kalkbrenner’s dunk made the rating 66-46 with 9:13 left.

The Musketeers trimmed the deficit to 5 on McKnight’s layup with 1:16 left, however Creighton held on.

BIG PICTURE:

Creighton: Steven Ashworth has eight straight video games with 10 or extra factors, together with 20 or extra prior to now two. Ashworth scored 12 on Saturday.

Xavier: Xavier is ranked second within the Large East and fourth nationally in fast-break factors, however Creighton restricted the speedy Musketeers to fifteen fast-break factors on Saturday.