PITTSBURGH — Regardless of trailing by 4 factors within the ultimate 30 seconds of regulation, No. 3 Creighton rallied and saved sufficient power to finally draw back from No. 11 Oregon, sealing an 86-73 win at PPG Paints Area that began Saturday evening however didn’t finish till early Sunday morning after two overtimes.
It appeared like it might finish in regulation earlier than Bluejays senior ahead Baylor Scheierman got here to the rescue. Scheierman hit two free throws with 27 seconds left in regulation to deliver the Bluejays inside two, then he hit a soar shot with eight seconds left to tie the sport at 62 after Oregon star N’Faly Dante missed the entrance finish of a one-and-one.
Creighton survived a Jermaine Couisnard shot on the regulation buzzer. Couisnard hit a 3-pointer to tie the sport with 16 seconds left within the first additional time, then Creighton’s Trey Alexander missed on the first additional time buzzer.
“Epic recreation,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott mentioned. “Unsure I’ve been a part of one fairly prefer it.”
WE’RE GOING TO THE SWEET SIXTEEN!!!#GoJays pic.twitter.com/FSPJBdZkvU
— Creighton Males’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) March 24, 2024
Regardless of a tricky capturing evening general, Creighton (25-9) strikes on to play No. 2 Tennessee subsequent week within the Candy 16 after holding Oregon to simply two factors within the second additional time. Each groups had been gassed, however Creighton seniors Steven Ashworth and Ryan Kalkbrenner hit 3-pointers to create some cushion and deflate an Oregon crew that had 5 gamers play at the very least 37 minutes.
Ashworth led Creighton with 21 factors. Alexander had 20, Kalkbrenner had 19 and Scheierman had 18. Alexander and Scheierman performed all 50 minutes.
Couisnard had 32, whereas Dante had 28 factors and 21 rebounds.
Bluejays battle again
Creighton was down and virtually buried, however the Bluejays by no means confirmed outward frustration. A senior-laden crew stored its composure and let Scheierman lead down the stretch in regulation. Creighton didn’t get the free-flowing recreation they like, and so they shot simply 29-of-75 on the evening. However deep reserve Jasen Inexperienced pitched in, Ashworth stored capturing and Kalkbrenner stored sufficient power to return up massive within the further intervals regardless of battling Dante all evening.
This was a high-level recreation, and a battle-tested Creighton crew is lucky to bop on.
Required studying
(Photograph: Gregory Fisher / USA Right this moment)