PITTSBURGH (AP)-- Creighton leaned on experience from previous journeys through March to make certain this one didn't start with a stumble.
Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 23 points and Trey Alexander had 19 as the Bluejays, who came within seconds of making the Final Four a year back, opened the NCAA Tournament with a 77-60 win over
Akron in the Midwest Region on Thursday.
No. 3 seeded Creighton (24-9) got all it could deal with in the very first half from No. 14 seed
Akron (24-11), the Mid-American Conference tourney champ which can be found in as a 10 1/2- point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Bluejays bent their Big East muscles after halftime and pulled away to advance to the second round and a match with No. 11 seed Oregon on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. The Ducks advanced with an 87-73 victory over South Carolina.
This was the start Creighton was expecting. A year ago, the Bluejays' season ended with a heartbreaking 57-56 loss to
San Diego State-- Creighton devoted a foul in the closing seconds-- in the South Region final. Much of that team came back for coach Greg McDermott to attempt and make another deep run, and the Bluejays have taken the primary step.
" Teams that are here the first time are taking images and doing all that when they go on the court," McDermott said. "Our guys today were like, all right, this is where we anticipated to be. What are we going to do, and let's do it and leave here."
The Bluejays took care of business.
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Baylor Scheierman added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Creighton, that made 10 of 17 3-pointers. The Bluejays, who were advised of the fragility of this month when they got bounced in the first round of the Big East tourney last week, just led by five at halftime as
Akron matched them shot for shot. But a 20-8 run to open the 2nd half ensured Creighton's tournament will continue.
" The video game is 40 minutes long and there's a great deal of downs and ups," Scheierman stated. "Obviously in the first half there was some things that didn't go right for us and they were sort of hanging with us and whatnot. However then we were able to get stops and get a game of runs and we were able to go on ours. The experience of understanding that the game is 40 minutes and anything can take place, that assists us out."
Akron's Enrique Freeman, the MAC Player of the Year and nation's leading rebounder, finished with 21 points and 14 boards. It was Freeman's 31st double-double, tying him with Navy terrific David Robinson (1986) for the single-season NCAA record.
" Obviously the distinctions feel good," stated Freeman, his eyes reddened from tears. "We worked extremely hard. We did something really unique in
Akron, and I'm happy we had the ability to put on for the city."
The Zips was up to 0-6 in NCAA Tournament play.
Akron coach John Groce, who guided Ohio to a Sweet 16 berth in 2010, had his group all set to play and the Zips were still within 49-42 early in the second half.
That's when the Bluejays went on a 10-2 run topped by Mason Miller striking a 3-pointer from the left wing. After capturing the ball, Miller used a phony to buckle the knees of
Akron's Mikal Dawson, who groaned as he fell helplessly backward to the floor.
The Zips were still within 12 before Creighton slowed things down, required
Akron to nasty and made its free throws.
With 1:23 left, Groce chose it was time and subbed for Freeman, who made the Zips' roster as a walk-on 5 years ago and leaves as one of the top gamers in the program's history. It was a psychological moment for Groce, who hugged Freeman securely while understanding he would never ever coach him once again.
" Tough," Groce said, pausing for numerous seconds to acquire his composure while speaking about Freeman. "It's not even if as good of player as he is, that's part of it. It's the individual he is. The leader. The teammate. How coachable he is. His work principles. Just how much he cares about other people.
" I've nicknamed him the unicorn for a reason."
UP NEXT
The Bluejays could have a reunion with Oregon coach Dana Altman, who won 503 video games in 16 seasons at Creighton.
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