OMAHA, Neb. — In an impressive display on Saturday, Ryan Kalkbrenner powered Creighton past Butler with his 27-point performance, clinching a 87-74 victory.
Kalkbrenner’s contribution was further magnified with 15 rebounds, aiding the Bluejays’ record to reach 22-9 overall and 15-5 in the Big East Conference. Teammate Steven Ashworth also shined, scoring 23 points. Ashworth’s effective shooting, 8 for 19 overall and 7 for 15 from three-point range, was complemented by his six rebounds and a notable 11 assists. Jackson McAndrew contributed significantly as well, adding 14 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 4 for 6 from the three-point line.
On the opposing side, Jahmyl Telfort led the charge for the Bulldogs with 19 points and six assists. Additional key performances for Butler included Patrick McCaffery’s 19 points and three steals, along with Andre Screen securing 10 points and six rebounds.
The pivotal moment came just before halftime, as Creighton seized the lead with 2:49 remaining in the first half and maintained control from thereon. The halftime score was 52-44, heavily influenced by Ashworth’s 21-point first-half showing. Creighton managed to outscore Butler by five points in the second half, where Kalkbrenner led his team with 12 points.
As the regular season concludes, Creighton earned the second spot in the conference standings while Butler finished tied for eighth. Anticipation now builds with the Big East Tournament set to begin on Wednesday, where both teams will look to make their mark.
