Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – Junior Colt Ryan and senior Denver Holmes had career-highs, but a late run by Creighton helped them take a 93-92 win over the University of Evansville men’s basketball team on Tuesday evening at the CenturyLink Center.
 
Ryan hit 17-of-24 shots en route to 43 points for the Aces (14-14, 8-9 MVC) while Holmes knocked down 8-of-9 shots to score 25.  Doug McDermott and Antoine Young led Creighton (24-5, 13-4 MVC) with 21 apiece.
 
Three-pointers were falling in the opening minutes as Jahenns Manigat opened up with one in the first possession of the game before Denver Holmes responded with one of his own.  Following a Bluejay turnover, Colt Ryan got on the board with a three of his own to give UE its first lead of the game.
 
A Jaylon Moore putback along with a Ryan Sawvell dunk helped Evansville open up a 10-5 advantage.  Creighton got back within a possession before a 6-0 stretch helped UE open up its largest lead of seven points (19-12) as Ned Cox capped off the run with a jumper at the 12 minute mark.  Defense was once again the key for UE.  Despite allowing Creighton to hit five of its first six shots, Evansville turned five early turnovers into seven points.
 
Holmes helped the Aces continue to add to their lead in the half, beginning the game 5-for-5 including a perfect 3-3 start from three-point range as UE jumped out to a 26-17 advantage.  Following a quick 5-0 run by the Bluejays, Holmes responded with yet another trey to end the run.
 
The No. 3 three-point shooting team in the country continued its barrage from long range, connecting on six of its first nine treys, including one by Avery Dingman, who gave CU its first lead since the early going as his three put the Bluejays on top, 32-31, with four minutes left in the half.
 
Creighton would continue to utilize the long ball, draining seven in the opening stanza on its way to a 39-33 lead.  Dingman scored nine in the period, all threes.  Thus far in his freshman season, he has scored more than nine on just two occasions.  A pair of Antoine Young free throws with 1:23 remaining capped off a 17-4 run.
 
As was the case all game long, UE refused to give up in the final minute, scoring the final seven points of the half to take a 40-39 lead into halftime.  Ryan scored the last five points, including a three at the buzzer to give UE the lead.
 
Using the momentum gained from its late run, the Aces scorched the nets to begin the second half.  Evansville hit its first four shots, extending its run to a 17-2 stretch as Ryan capped it off with his third trey of the contest to make it 50-41.  Creighton turned the ball over four times over the first two minutes of the latter period.
 
Less than two minutes later, Kenneth Harris sank one out of two free throws to give UE its firs double-digit lead at 53-43.  Dingman kept his career-outing going, knocking down his fourth trey to cut the deficit back to seven.
 
Ryan kept up the intensity on the offensive end, connecting on 11 of his opening 15 shots to give UE a 14-point edge (60-46).  His 28^th point came with 14:08 left as he capped off a 7-0 stretch.  The Bluejays began to chip into the deficit at that point, scoring the next five points to get back within nine points.
 
After UE matched its largest lead of 14 points on Holmes’ fourth three-pointer give UE a 71-57 lead, Creighton went on another run, scoring 11 of the next 13 points as the Aces’ lead was cut to just five points.  Young had four points in the stretch as the momentum once again swung the Jays way.  Holmes struck once again, hitting a pair of free throws to end the run. 
 
Doug McDermott, who struggled for most of the night, hit a layup with less than three minutes remaining to get CU back within four at 79-75 before Ryan tied his career mark, notching his 39^th point.  Cox hit two free throws with two minutes left to make it a seven-point game before McDermott hit his first three to make the UE lead four points once again.
 
Following a shotclock violation by the Aces, Gregory Echenique scored just his second bucket on a put-back to make it a 2-point game.  With under 20 seconds remaining, the Aces committed their second shotclock violation in as many possessions, giving CU the ball with the chance for the last shot.  A wilt tip at the buzzer tied it up and sent the game to overtime.  The Bluejays finished regulation on a 26-12 run.
 
Young gave the Bluejays their first lead since the first half, beating the clock with a teardrop shot before Troy Taylor tied it back up with a layup, ending a 5-minute field goal drought.  In the last minute of play, a Ryan bucket gave UE a 92-91 lead before Josh Jones hit the game-winner with 23 seconds left.  A long UE shot fell short at the buzzer.
 
Both teams shot lights out as UE shot 58.9% and Creighton shot 56.9%.  The rebounding battle finished tied at 27-27.
 
On Saturday, the Aces return home for the final game of the regular season as Missouri State comes to town.  Tip is set for 1:05 p.m. at the Ford Center as seniors Kenneth Harris, Denver Holmes, Matt Peeler and Brandon Williams will be honored.