Trey Alexander scored 27 points and made the big defensive play to help host Creighton hold off Villanova 66-61 on Saturday night in Big East play at Omaha, Neb.
Ryan Kalkbrenner added 16 points and three blocked shots, and Ryan Nembhard had 10 as the Bluejays (15-8, 9-3 Big East) won their sixth consecutive game.
Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.
Eric Dixon recorded 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots for Villanova (10-13, 4-8), which lost its third straight game and eighth of its past 11. Justin Moore scored 13 points and Caleb Daniels had 12.
Creighton was protecting a one-point lead when Daniels was moving into the lane. Alexander reached out and poked the ball away and was eventually fouled and made two free throws to give the Bluejays a 64-61 edge with 12.1 seconds left.
Dixon airballed a 3-point attempt with just under 3 seconds left and Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman made two free throws with 1.4 seconds left to seal it.
The Bluejays shot 37.7 percent from the field, including 7 of 24 from 3-point range. Alexander made 5 of 9 from long range.
The Wildcats hit 38.8 percent of their shots and were 7 of 25 from behind the arc.
Dixon missed two shots on Villanova’s next possession — the first was blocked by Kalkbrenner — and Arthur Kaluma grabbed the rebound and was fouled. But Kaluma missed the front end and the Wildcats took over with Dixon nailing a 3-pointer to give Villanova a 61-60 lead with 34.3 seconds left.
Alexander made two free throws to give Creighton a one-point edge with 26.2 seconds to go before making his big steal.
The Wildcats answered with eight straight points and pulled within two on Dixon’s two free throws with 11:23 left. Alexander converted a three-point play to give the Bluejays a five-point edge before Villanova scored seven more in a row, the last five by Dixon, to take a 51-49 lead with 9:43 left in the contest.
Nembhard’s layup knotted the score at 56 with 5:31 left and Alexander hit a jumper to give the Bluejays a 58-56 lead with 3:43 remaining.
Alexander and Kalkbrenner scored 12 points apiece as Creighton led 35-27 at the break.
–Field Level Media
Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our sports betting section for news and odds.
