NEW YORK — In a gripping semifinal matchup at the Big East Conference Tournament, Creighton emerged victorious over UConn with a 71-62 triumph on Friday. This performance secured the Bluejays, who are the second seed, a spot in the final against top-seeded St. John’s.
Jasen Green and Jamiya Neal were instrumental in Creighton’s success, each contributing 19 points. The game saw a critical moment when Alex Karaban from UConn tied the score at 28-28 with less than seven minutes remaining in the first half. However, Creighton responded quickly and decisively with an 11-point run—six of which were scored by Green—establishing a 46-35 advantage by halftime. Green was in exceptional form, delivering 15 points in the first half by successfully converting all seven of his shots, including one from beyond the arc. Neal also shone before the break, making four out of five shots and successfully landing both three-point attempts, adding 13 points to his team’s tally.
Neal further contributed to Creighton’s efforts with five rebounds. Green, maintaining an impressive 8 for 10 shooting accuracy throughout the game, remained pivotal. Ryan Kalkbrenner added his presence with 12 points, although he struggled beyond the arc, making 0 of 3 attempts.
On UConn’s side, Solomon Ball led the scoring with 13 points, matched by Liam McNeeley, while Hassan Diarra provided solid support, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds. Despite UConn’s efforts, Creighton seized the upper hand just over five minutes into the first half and maintained dominance for the remainder of the match. Green’s contributions were pivotal in securing a halftime lead, while after halftime, although outscored by UConn by two points, Kalkbrenner’s eight points helped ensure the Bluejays’ victory.
