CINCINNATI — In an exciting display of basketball prowess, Zach Freemantle emerged as a key player in the second half, scoring an impressive 19 out of his total 23 points, leading Xavier to a commanding 83-61 victory over Creighton on Saturday. This win marked the Musketeers’ fifth consecutive triumph.
Freemantle also contributed six rebounds, playing a crucial role for the Musketeers, who now have a 19-10 record overall and an 11-7 slate within the Big East Conference. Teammates Ryan Conwell and Dante Maddox Jr. also added significant points with 20 and 16 respectively.
On the other side, Creighton, holding a 20-9 record with a 13-5 conference standing, entered the game tied with Marquette in second place within the conference, trailing No. 7 St. John’s by 3 1/2 games. The Bluejays had a slim one-game lead over UConn. Ryan Kalkbrenner shone for Creighton, recording 23 points along with 12 rebounds and two blocks. Steven Ashworth contributed with nine points and five assists, while Jamiya Neal added eight points and secured six rebounds.
Xavier firmly captured the lead with just under 13 minutes left in the initial half, and they maintained control for the rest of the game. Conwell’s performance early on, scoring 10 points in the first half, was instrumental in positioning the Musketeers 42-27 at halftime. The second half saw Xavier further solidifying their dominance, initiating a 14-0 surge to widen their eight-point advantage to 22 points.
Looking ahead, Creighton is set to face Seton Hall on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Xavier will be on the road to play against Butler on Wednesday.
