INDIANAPOLIS — In an exciting matchup on Saturday, Ryan Kalkbrenner led the way with an impressive 26 points, helping the Creighton Bluejays secure an 80-76 victory against the Butler Bulldogs.
Kalkbrenner had a standout game, contributing nine rebounds, three steals, and blocking six shots for the Bluejays, who improved their record to 10-6 overall and 3-2 in the Big East Conference. Teammate Steven Ashworth also made significant contributions, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. Neal Jamiya added to the tally with 14 points after shooting 7 of 16 from the field.
For the Bulldogs, who are struggling this season with a record of 7-10 and are still winless at 0-6 in conference play, Patrick McCaffery was the top scorer with 21 points and seven rebounds. Pierre Brooks supported with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Boden Kapke chipped in 13 points. This defeat marked Butler’s ninth consecutive loss.
The game was tightly contested, and the teams were locked in a 43-43 tie at halftime. Ashworth was pivotal during this period, scoring 14 points to keep the game close. Creighton finally took control of the match with 12:36 left in the second half when Kalkbrenner executed a powerful dunk to give his team a 56-54 lead, a lead they maintained until the end.
Looking ahead, Creighton will face Providence at home on Tuesday, while Butler prepares to host Seton Hall on Wednesday.