Rutgers University
Creighton
MBB Outslugged by Creighton in Las Vegas
Nov 24 | Men's Basketball
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LAS VEGAS - Despite a career-high 21 points from Corey Sanders, who also added four assists and three steals, Rutgers (3-2) fell 85-75 to Creighton (3-1) in the championship round of the Heavyweight Bracket in the Men Who Speak Up Main Event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Monday night. Bishop Daniels added 17 points off the bench, while Deshawn Freeman had 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The Scarlet Knights outshot the Blue Jays in the first half, making 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) from the field en route to taking a 43-40 halftime lead. Creighton responded in the second half, however, shooting 50 percent both overall (13-of-26) and from behind the arc (5-of-10), to outscore RU 45-32 in the second stanza.
The first half was played at a fast pace, with Rutgers and Creighton both pushing the floor and trading baskets. The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 21-18 lead, as Daniels keyed the way with two early three-pointers.
The Blue Jays took a four-point advantage at 29-25, but Sanders kicked into high gear. The freshman scored 12 points in the final eight minutes of the stanza, and keyed a 14-4 run for the Scarlet Knights to take a 39-32 lead. That stretch saw RU make six straight shots, which included two three-pointers from Sanders, and two assists as he fed forwards driving to the hoops for easy lay-ins. Creighton fought back, however, and Rutgers took a three-point edge into the halftime locker room.
Creighton came out hot after the midpoint, opening the frame on a 14-3 run to take a 54-46 advantage. Sanders halted the run, converting an and-one play, and Daniels came alive, pumping in 11 points in the second half.
The Scarlet Knights went to a four guard lineup, going small to try and match Creighton's hot shooting. Freeman scored four quick points, and Rutgers had the deficit cut to 65-62. The Blue Jays had a final response, hitting two quick three-pointers in transition, and countering with a 13-0 run after the lead had been cut to a one possession game.
Rutgers was never able to overcome that deficit and Creighton finished off the 10-point victory.
The Scarlet Knights will next play in the Consolation Game of the Men Who Speak Up Main Event on Wednesday night. RU will face Creighton at 9 p.m. local time (midnight Eastern time). Rutgers will play Clemson for the second straight season, defeating the Tigers 69-64 last season in Clemson, S.C. as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Notes:
- Corey Sanders set career-highs with 21 points and three steals.
Sanders also had four assists, and is averaging 4.75 assists-per-game.
The Scarlet Knights had three players in double figures, with Daniels (17) and Freeman (14) also reaching double figures. It was the fourth time in five games RU had at least three players in double figures.
Daniels has averaged 14.7 points when coming off the bench this season.
Freeman has scored double figures in four of his five games in a Scarlet Knights uniform.
The Scarlet Knights will next face Clemson on Wednesday night. Rutgers is 1-1 all-time against the Tigers, defeating them 69-64 last season at Littlejohn Colliseum in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Rutgers starters were the same for the third straight game: guard Corey Sanders, guard Mike Williams, forward D.J. Foreman, forward Deshawn Freeman, and center Greg Lewis.
Head Coach Eddie Jordan
On Creighton…
"They are a unique team. They maximize three-point shooting, because they have the personnel to do it. They are unique in a sense where they will have a game like this, but they will also have a game like we saw on tape against Indiana where they missed a whole lot of open threes. We just didn't get a handle on them for the whole forty ticks. I thought we did a lot of good things, for about 28 to 30 minutes."
On the final stretch…
"I think we had three freshmen and a sophomore out there - and that's what we're going to be. I want those guys to get some experience. I want them to understand; this is how you play, this is how you win. Learn from your mistakes. But I'm going to play you, and this is what it's all about, building the program with quality young players. One day, hopefully soon, they will get more mature."
On takeaways from the game…
"That you have to play really hard, number one. You have to play smart. You have to know who is a three-point shooter - and there were a whole lot of them tonight. We talked about being organized in transition defense. Make sure you see the ball, stop the ball, match up, and don't let them drive to the basket, and yet get out and close on three-point shooters. All of that is a lot of things for young players to understand. Every part of that is important. That's what I want them to understand - details are important. I think we'll get to that. On the offensive end, we went through a drought, we turned it over. Corey turned it over a bit here and there but he had a good game otherwise for a freshman who is leading the team. I like what we did a lot, but we'll have to go through this."
