Scheierman’s late flurry lifts No. 12 Creighton past No. 5 Marquette
Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman saved one of his best games for his last at CHI Health Center.
The Big East player of the year candidate scored 26 points and made three straight 3-pointers late in the game Saturday in Omaha, Neb., to lead No. 12 Creighton to an 89-75 victory over No. 5 Marquette, which played without star guard Tyler Kolek and big man Oso Ighodaro.
Scheierman’s run of three 3s in less than two minutes broke open what had been a two-point game. He was in so good a rhythm that after his last one, he turned to the crowd and yelled, “I don’t even got to look!”
The sixth-year player from Aurora, Nebraska, also had a season-high 16 rebounds for his eighth double-double in 10 games and conference-leading 14th.
“Last game in this building, last game probably in Nebraska in front of family and friends… Just a special feeling, especially when the group is as close as we are,” Scheierman said.
Creighton (22-8, 13-6) avenged a 72-67 loss in Milwaukee on Dec. 30 and kept itself in position for the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament in two weeks. Coupled with its win over then-No. 1 UConn on Feb. 20, Creighton beat two top-five opponents in the same season for the first time.
Marquette (22-7, 13-5) lost for the first time in four games.
“Certainly, looking at it from their standpoint, their program, that’s how you want a senior day to go for your seniors and departing guys,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “I think from our standpoint, really proud of our guys’ fight, connectivity, energy, resilience, stamina, belief.”
Kolek didn’t play after leaving Wednesday’s game against Providence with an injury to an oblique, an abdominal muscle, and Ighodaro was out because of illness. Chase Ross started in place of Kolek and Ben Gold in place of Ighodaro.
Smart said he didn’t now how long Kolek would be out, and Creighton coach Greg McDermott offered best wishes.
“I pray to God that he’s back on the floor soon,” McDermott said. “He’s been such a good representative of our league and one of the best point guards in the country, and Marquette has had an incredible (two seasons) with him at the controls. You want to play against them at their best.”
Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 19 points and Trey Alexander added 18 points and 11 assists for the Bluejays, who honored their 1974 Sweet 16 team at halftime.
Kam Jones led the Golden Eagles with 23 points, David Joplin had 21 and Stevie Mitchell had 15 points and nine rebounds.
Villanova 71, Providence
60: At Providence, R.I., Justin Moore’s 15 points on 5 of 10 shooting (4 for 6 from 3-point range) lifted the Wildcats (17-12, 10-8 Big East Conference). Eric Dixon shot 4 for 12, including 1 for 5 from beyond the arc to add 11 points. Mark Armstrong had 10 points and finished 4 of 10 from the field.
Josh Oduro finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Friars (18-11, 9-9). Devin Carter added 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals for Providence. In addition, Davonte Gaines finished with 11 points and two steals.
Moore scored nine points in the first half and Villanova went into halftime trailing 37-34. Villanova pulled off the victory after an 18-2 second-half run erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 52-39 with 13:21 left in the half. Armstrong scored eight second-half points.
Butler 82, DePaul 63: At Chicago, DJ Davis’ 24 points and contributed seven rebounds for the Bulldogs (17-13, 8-11 Big East Conference). Pierre Brooks scored 16 points while shooting 6 for 9, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc. Jalen Thomas shot 6 for 13, including 1 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points. The Bulldogs stopped a fivegame slide with the win.
The Blue Demons (3-26, 0-18) were led by Jaden Henley, who recorded 15 points and two steals. DePaul also got 14 points and six rebounds from Jalen Terry. Elijah Fisher also put up 12 points and six rebounds. The loss is the 17th in a row for the Blue Demons.