Creighton Men's Basketball Outlasts Gophers In Double-OT Exhibition Finale
OMAHA, Neb. -- BJ Davis had 11 points in overtime as Creighton Men's Basketball closed its exhibition season with an 89-86 double-overtime win over Minnesota on Friday night at CHI Health Center Omaha. It was Creighton's second straight exhibition game in which it built a big lead, then held on in the closing seconds when its opponent missed a three-pointer in the waning seconds after posting an 83-80 triumph on Sunday in Ames.
The Bluejays scored the first 11 points of the game, led 44-31 at the half, and were up 49-31 with just over 18 minutes remaining in regulation. The Golden Gophers scratched back and took their first lead at 65-64 with 1:19 left in regulation before CU got defensive stops to end regulation, overtime and double-overtime in its first exhibition game at home under the direction of Alan Huss.
Wes Enis shook off a scoreless first half and led CU with 20 points, while Davis and Austin Swartz each finished with 18 points. The Bluejays played without Jasen Green and outscored Minnesota 20-3 in transition. CU's newcomers contributed 55 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.
Minnesota was paced by 32 points from Isaac Asuma, while Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had 16 points and 11 rebounds in more than 46 minutes of work. Also posting a double-double was reserve Kai Shinholster with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Swartz stuffed the stat sheet in the opening minutes with six points, two steals and an assist to help the Jays to the 11-0 lead. Minnesota responded with a run of its own to get within two points at 14-12. Swartz had 14 points in the first half, making 5-of-6 shots from the field and 4-of-5 three-pointers, while Oswin Erhunmwunse added three of CU's seven steals that helped contribute to a 15-0 lead in fast break points.
Enis scored the first five points of the second half to help CU build a 49-31 lead with 18:28 to play before Minnesota rallied. The Golden Gophers scored the next 10 points to close to 49-41 with 15:37 remaining. Minnesota tied the game at 61-all with 4:40 left on a hoop by Asuma, who had 30 of his 32 points after the intermission. Minnesota then took its first lead of the night at 65-64 with 1:19 left on a basket by Shinholster. The Jays would tie the score at 67-all on two clutch free throws by Enis with 26 seconds left, then held on as Shinholster missed a pair of shots in the closing seconds of regulation.
Neither team led by more than three points in the first overtime. The Gophers led 76-73 with 21 seconds left after Nolan Groves split two foul shots, but Enis drilled a three-pointer to tie it with 14 seconds left. Minnesota again came up short in its chance to win it as Asuma's turnaround jumper was off the mark.
Creighton took an 81-78 lead in the second overtime as Davis drained a corner three-pointer, and went up 85-81 after a steal from Katrelle Harmon led to a lay-up in transition from Davis. CU led 87-81 with 21 seconds left but Asuma halved that margin with a three-pointer four seconds later. CU would turn the ball over against Minnesota's backcourt pressure, and Asumai's long two-pointer trimmed the CU lead to 87-86 with five seconds left.
Davis gave CU an 89-86 edge with two clutch free throws, but Asuma's pull-up trey at the buzzer was short as CU won its 27th straight fall exhibition game.
The Bluejays will open the regular-season on Nov. 2 with a home game against Kansas City that will air on ESPN+.