Connecticut Huskies vs Creighton Bluejays Match Player Stats On Mar 02, 2022

Ryan Kalkbrenner totaled 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead host Creighton to a crucial 64-62 victory over No. 18 UConn on Wednesday night in Omaha, Neb.

The Bluejays (20-9, 12-6 Big East) won for the seventh time in eight games, securing a first-round bye in the upcoming Big East tournament. They also moved into a third-place tie in the conference with the Huskies (21-8, 12-6 Big East). Creighton swept the season series.

UConn had its five-game winning streak snapped despite 20 points and four assists from R.J. Cole, who nearly rallied the Huskies to victory down the stretch.

Cole's layup with 7.1 seconds left cut UConn's deficit to 62-60 after Creighton guard Alex O'Connell missed a pair of free throws.

But Ryan Hawkins iced the game by making two free throws with 6.1 seconds left.

After UConn's Jalen Gaffney missed a 3-pointer, time ran out just as Adama Sanogo hit a meaningless layup at the buzzer.

Hawkins finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

Arthur Kaluma scored all 15 of his points in the first half to key Creighton's hot start as it shot 51.7 percent before the break.

UConn opened the second half on a 12-3 run to pull within a point at 37-36 with 15:16 left. But back-to-back baskets by Kalkbrenner pushed the Bluejays' lead back up to five.

Sanogo totaled 13 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks, while Tyrese Martin had 11 points and five rebounds for UConn. Martin fouled out with 19.6 seconds left just after Tyler Polley's 3-pointer cut Creighton's lead to 60-58. Trey Alexander hit a pair of free throws to put the Bluejays back up by four.

UConn's Isaiah Whaley, who scored 20 points in the first game against Creighton, was held to only three points on 1-for-6 shooting over 31 minutes.

--Field Level Media