Creighton Holds Off Marquette

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

 

 

The second game that took place today featured the #4 Creighton Blue Jays (20-10 overall, 12-7 conference) against the #5 Marquette Golden Eagles (19-11 overall, 11-8 conference). The Blue Jays took the two regular season games with the first game going into double overtime. The second match-up saw Creighton escape with a 1-point, 83-82 victory. So, it was no surprise that this game would be another nail biter. The first half proved that.

 

Creighton took a halftime 29-26 lead as forward Arthur Kaluma scored 9 points. His center Ryan Kalkbrenner added 8 points. On the Marquette side, forward Justin Lewis missed all 4 of his 3-point attempts and finished with 8 points. His forward mate Oliver-Maxence Prosper hit his 2, 3-point attempts to finish with 6 points. Guard Kam Jones came off the bench to add 5. The Blue Jays converted 7 of 10 free throws helping to take the halftime lead.

 

Creighton came out of a mission to start the second half. It began with forward Ryan Hawkins draining a 3-pointer that put them up 36-29. That was followed up by a vicious Kaluma slam bringing the crowd to a frenzy. The free throw extended the lead to 8 (39-31) which was followed by a Prosper lay-up and subsequent foul. With the throw made, the Golden Eagles closed the gap to 6 at 39-33. 

 

 

 

 

The Blue Jays forward Ryan Hawkins would then hit a 3-pointer and before you know it, Creighton opened up a 12-point lead at 46-34. That would not be the last time Creighton would hear from Marquette. Down 51-38 the Golden Eagles rattled off 7 straight points to get within 6 (51-45). Creighton righted itself and went on a 10-3 run, getting the lead back up to 12 at 60-48 with 6:23 left in the game. Just when you thought the Golden Eagles were done, they said in the immortal words of ESPN’s football college analyst, Lee Coro “not so fast my friend”. 

 

It began with Marquette down 10, 60-50. After a Greg Elliott basket and free throw, they are suddenly down 2 (63-61) with 3:06 left. It would be the closest they would get. Creighton showed their poise and outscored the Golden Eagles 11-3 to end the game with a 74-63 victory. 

 

Creighton’ s Ryan Hawkins finished with 18 points followed by Kaluma and Kalkbrenner with 14 each. Marquette’s Darryl Morsell led the team with 18 points with Justin Lewis chipping in 17. 

 

Creighton will now face the #1 Providence in the semi-finals Friday night 6:30pm.