OMAHA, Neb. — In a commanding performance, Ryan Kalkbrenner recorded 16 points and Steven Ashworth contributed 13, leading No. 14 Creighton to a decisive 78-43 victory over Houston Christian on Wednesday evening. This victory positioned Greg McDermott as the all-time wins leader for Creighton men’s basketball.

Taking the helm in 2010, McDermott has amassed a total of 328 wins with the program, surpassing the previous record of 327 held by Dana Altman, who now coaches at Oregon. With this win, the Bluejays improved to 3-0, while the Huskies fell to 1-2, struggling to keep pace.

Creighton’s defense was particularly effective, limiting Houston Christian to just 25% shooting and recording their lowest score against the Bluejays since 2017. Kalkbrenner, standing at 7-foot-1, maintained his exceptional shooting percentage, going a perfect 6 of 6 from the field, which gives him a remarkable 35 of 38 shooting through three games, leading the nation with a 92.1% shooting rate.

The Bluejays began the game sluggishly, managing only three points in the first five and a half minutes. However, they quickly found their rhythm, activating their transition offense. Kalkbrenner became a dominant force in the paint, and a 16-0 run allowed them to establish a comfortable double-digit advantage that continued to grow throughout the game.

D’Aundre Samuels was the leading scorer for the Huskies, finishing with eight points.

**Key Insights**
For Houston Christian, being ranked last in the 12-team Southland Conference has proven challenging, as they have now suffered 16 consecutive losses against ranked teams. Meanwhile, Creighton has stumbled out of the gate in each game this season, having missed seven of their first eight shot attempts in this match as well. While they have managed to win against lesser opponents, they will need to improve upon their early-game inefficiencies as tougher competition approaches.

**Game Highlight**
An important turning point in the game occurred when Creighton outscored Houston Christian 36-5 in the final 16 minutes of the first half. During this stretch, the Huskies went without a field goal for an eight-minute span, showcasing Creighton’s defensive prowess.

**Noteworthy Stats**
The first half proved dismal for Houston Christian, as they recorded only 12 points, shooting 15.2% from the field (5 of 33), marking the lowest first-half scoring total by a Division I team this season.

**Looking Ahead**
In their upcoming matchups, Houston Christian will host Division III Rockford on Saturday, while Creighton will take on Kansas City the same day.