OMAHA, Neb. — In an impressive performance, Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 24 points while Steven Ashworth contributed 15 points through five successful three-pointers, leading the 15th-ranked Creighton team to a decisive 96-70 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday evening.
This win marked a significant milestone for coach Greg McDermott, who achieved his 327th victory in 15 seasons at Creighton, thereby matching Dana Altman’s record for the most coaching wins in the history of the program.
Kalkbrenner, who previously tallied an astounding 49 points against UT-Rio Grande Valley earlier in the week—making it the second-highest single-game score in Creighton’s history—continued his stellar performance by hitting 9 of 10 shots against the Knights (1-2). The 7-foot-1 Big East preseason player of the year managed to connect on one three-pointer as the Bluejays took control of the game late in the first half.
Joining him in the scoring were Arizona State transfer Jamiya Neal and newcomer Jackson McAndrew, each contributing 13 points, while Pop Isaacs added 12 points to the scoreboard for Creighton (2-0). From the Knights, Terrence Brown was the standout performer, scoring 19 points. Dylan Jones, with 4 of 8 three-pointers made, and Bismark Nsiah, who also scored 12 points, provided support.
Looking at the broader picture, Fairleigh Dickinson faced another tough challenge with this game, being the second of three matchups against power-conference teams in their first four games this season. Their opener resulted in a 113-72 loss to Miami, but they managed to stay competitive with Creighton for the first 15 minutes.
The Creighton team showcased excellent early-season form, having won their opening two games, which has occurred 14 times in McDermott’s 15 seasons as head coach.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Creighton launched a surge, scoring 24 points against just 8 for Fairleigh Dickinson to transform a 26-26 tie into a commanding 50-34 lead by halftime.
Notably, Kalkbrenner’s shooting accuracy has been stellar. Among players with at least 30 field-goal attempts, he leads the nation with a shooting percentage of 90.6% (29 of 32). The next closest player, Marquette’s Kam Jones, stands at 76.7% (23 of 30).
Looking ahead, Fairleigh Dickinson is set to visit Nebraska on Wednesday, while Creighton prepares to host Houston Christian on the same day.