OMAHA, Neb. — Ryan Kalkbrenner played a pivotal role in Creighton’s victory over DePaul, scoring 25 points to secure a 75-65 win on Wednesday night. Kalkbrenner’s impressive performance for the Bluejays also included 13 rebounds, demonstrating his dominance on the court.
Creighton, boasting a record of 20-8 and 13-4 in the Big East Conference, was further supported by Steven Ashworth, who contributed 16 points and six assists. Fedor Zugic added nine points, shooting 3 for 7, including a 1 for 5 effort from beyond the arc, and was 2 of 3 from the free-throw line.
The Blue Demons, struggling at 11-18 and 2-16 in conference play, were led by Isaiah Rivera with 18 points and eight rebounds, offering a strong though ultimately insufficient response. CJ Gunn provided an additional 14 points and six rebounds, while Layden Blocker scored 11 points. DePaul’s defeat marked their sixth consecutive loss.
Creighton gained the upper hand with 7:29 remaining in the first half and maintained their lead thereafter. Kalkbrenner was instrumental in the first-half success, scoring 12 points to give Creighton a 36-32 lead going into halftime. A pivotal 15-0 surge in the second half helped Creighton extend their lead from five points to a commanding 20-point margin, reaching 65-45 with 8:23 remaining.
Looking ahead, Creighton is set to face Xavier on the road this Saturday, while DePaul will travel to confront Providence on Wednesday.
