Kalkbrenner's return from injury in 2nd half fuels No. 8 Creighton in 85-82 win over Alabama
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Word out of the locker room while Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was getting treatment for an ankle sprain was that it was questionable whether he would return for the second half against Alabama.
Kalkbrenner had no doubt he would.
“I turned on the TV in the training room so I could keep an eye on things,” he said. “I was watching the game and thought it was a little too close for comfort for me to be sitting back here.”
Kalkbrenner scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half to lead No. 8 Creighton to an 85-82 victory on Saturday night.
Trey Alexander paced Creighton (9-2) with 22 points and Baylor Scheierman added 20, but it was the return of Kalkbrenner to start the second half that gave the Bluejays the boost they needed to bounce back from their 15-point midweek loss to UNLV.
“I think at times people unfairly question his toughness,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. “And that’s a bunch of B.S. There’s a reason he didn’t come back in the first half. That ankle was not good and he was limping around at halftime and said he’d try it.”
Alabama (6-4) led most of the second half until Kalkbrenner converted lobs from Alexander and Scheierman into easy layups on consecutive possessions and Scheierman hit a 3-pointer to put Creighton up 72-66.
The Bluejays' lead grew to seven, but the Crimson Tide chipped away and got within 83-80 with 40 seconds left. Mark Sears, who led the Tide with 19 points, drove for an uncontested layup with 3.8 seconds left to make it a one-point game.
Steven Ashworth got fouled on the inbounds pass and made both free throws with 2.6 seconds left. Sears' long 3-point try from just inside halfcourt rattled in and out at the buzzer.
Alabama, which came in sixth nationally in 3-point shooting at 41%, was just 4 of 22 from distance.
The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner, the Bluejays' second-leading scorer and the two-time Big East defensive player of the year, turned his ankle while running back on defense with 13 minutes left in the first half. He scored six of the Bluejays' first eight points after halftime.
“Once I got out there, the adrenaline takes over,” Kalkbrenner said. “You're definitely going to feel it a little bit. I've sprained my ankle enough times to know how it feels. But after a certain point, you get confident in your movement and you can make an impact.”
Alabama attacked the basket in Kalkbrenner's absence. The 6-10 Nick Pringle, who had 15 points before fouling out with three minutes left, soared in along the baseline for one of his four dunks.
But when Kalkbrenner returned, the Tide had no answer for him. He scored six of the Bluejays' first eight points of the second half and converted lob after lob into easy baskets.
“In our four losses we’ve shown that we’re right there with all the best teams in the country,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said, “but we don’t do enough winning stuff to actually win the game.”
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: The Tide gave Creighton all it could handle on a night when they were cold from 3-point range and had starters Pringle, Mohamed Wague and others in foul trouble.
Creighton: The Bluejays are a different team when Kalkbrenner is on the court. Alabama's ability to drive to the basket was limited when he re-entered the game.
MURPHY RETURNS
The game marked the return of former Creighton assistant Preston Murphy to Omaha. Oats hired Murphy in July upon his completion of a two-year show-cause penalty.
Murphy resigned in 2019 after he was found to have violated NCAA rules when he was videotaped accepting $6,000 from a representative of a management company in a Las Vegas hotel room. The NCAA said the payment formalized a business agreement where the management company could use Murphy as a conduit to Creighton players. Creighton was placed on two years’ probation in 2021 in connection with the case.
UP NEXT
Alabama plays No. 1 Arizona in Phoenix on Wednesday, the last game in a stretch of three straight against top-10 opponents.
Creighton hosts Villanova on Wednesday in its Big East opener.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Mohamed Wague vs. Ryan Kalkbrenner (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. gains possession) | |||
19:35 | Grant Nelson misses two point layup | |||
19:33 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
19:21 | Grant Nelson personal foul | |||
19:21 | +3 | Steven Ashworth makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 0-3 | |
19:11 | Mohamed Wague misses two point hook shot | |||
19:09 | Mark Sears offensive rebound | |||
19:08 | Steven Ashworth personal foul | |||
19:05 | Aaron Estrada misses two point layup | |||
19:03 | Grant Nelson offensive rebound | |||
18:55 | Grant Nelson misses three point jump shot | |||
18:53 | Trey Alexander defensive rebound | |||
18:49 | Trey Alexander turnover (bad pass) | |||
18:46 | Mohamed Wague offensive foul | |||
18:46 | Mohamed Wague turnover (offensive foul) | |||
18:34 | Steven Ashworth turnover (bad pass) (Mohamed Wague steals) | |||
18:29 | Ryan Kalkbrenner shooting foul (Mohamed Wague draws the foul) | |||
18:29 | Mohamed Wague misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
18:29 | +1 | Mohamed Wague makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 1-3 | |
18:09 | +3 | Mason Miller makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 1-6 | |
17:56 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. offensive foul | |||
17:56 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | |||
17:39 | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point dunk (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 1-8 | |
17:23 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
17:21 | Mason Miller defensive rebound | |||
17:04 | Baylor Scheierman misses two point layup | |||
17:02 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. defensive rebound | |||
16:56 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists) | 3-8 | |
16:33 | +2 | Trey Alexander makes two point jump shot | 3-10 | |
16:17 | Aaron Estrada misses two point jump shot | |||
16:15 | Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound | |||
16:08 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. personal foul | |||
16:05 | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | |||
16:03 | Aaron Estrada defensive rebound | |||
15:56 | TV timeout | |||
15:47 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point layup | 5-10 | |
15:20 | +2 | Trey Alexander makes two point jump shot | 5-12 | |
15:08 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 7-12 | |
14:41 | Nick Pringle shooting foul (Baylor Scheierman draws the foul) | |||
14:41 | +1 | Baylor Scheierman makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-13 | |
14:41 | +1 | Baylor Scheierman makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-14 | |
14:15 | +3 | Jarin Stevenson makes three point jump shot (Rylan Griffen assists) | 10-14 | |
14:01 | Baylor Scheierman turnover (bad pass) (Sam Walters steals) | |||
13:47 | Mark Sears misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
13:45 | Mohamed Wague offensive rebound | |||
13:38 | Francisco Farabello personal foul | |||
13:34 | +2 | Mohamed Wague makes two point dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 12-14 | |
13:13 | Isaac Traudt misses three point jump shot | |||
13:11 | Mohamed Wague defensive rebound | |||
13:04 | Mohamed Wague misses two point driving layup | |||
13:02 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
12:44 | Fredrick King turnover (lost ball) (Sam Walters steals) | |||
12:36 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
12:34 | Bluejays defensive rebound | |||
12:18 | Baylor Scheierman turnover (double dribble) | |||
12:07 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point layup | 14-14 | |
11:56 | Sam Walters shooting foul (Francisco Farabello draws the foul) | |||
11:56 | TV timeout | |||
11:56 | +1 | Francisco Farabello makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-15 | |
11:56 | +1 | Francisco Farabello makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-16 | |
11:46 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point alley-oop dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 16-16 | |
11:27 | Sam Walters shooting foul (Fredrick King draws the foul) | |||
11:27 | +1 | Trey Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-17 | |
11:27 | +1 | Trey Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-18 | |
11:15 | Trey Alexander blocks Aaron Estrada's two point driving layup | |||
11:13 | Fredrick King defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Trey Alexander misses two point driving layup | |||
11:04 | Grant Nelson defensive rebound | |||
10:54 | Fredrick King shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul) | |||
10:54 | Nick Pringle misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:54 | +1 | Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-18 | |
10:38 | +2 | Fredrick King makes two point cutting dunk (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 17-20 | |
10:12 | Nick Pringle misses two point driving layup | |||
10:10 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
10:03 | Rylan Griffen misses three point jump shot | |||
10:01 | Fredrick King defensive rebound | |||
9:58 | Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot | |||
9:56 | Fredrick King offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | Mohamed Wague shooting foul (Fredrick King draws the foul) | |||
9:50 | Mohamed Wague shooting foul (Fredrick King draws the foul) | |||
9:50 | Fredrick King misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:50 | Fredrick King misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:50 | Jarin Stevenson defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | +2 | Grant Nelson makes two point alley-oop layup (Jarin Stevenson assists) | 19-20 | |
9:11 | +2 | Trey Alexander makes two point jump shot | 19-22 | |
8:56 | Baylor Scheierman personal foul | |||
8:51 | Grant Nelson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:49 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | Grant Nelson personal foul (Baylor Scheierman draws the foul) | |||
8:49 | Baylor Scheierman misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:49 | Nick Pringle defensive rebound | |||
8:41 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point alley-oop dunk (Latrell Wrightsell Jr. assists) | 21-22 | |
8:18 | +2 | Baylor Scheierman makes two point layup | 21-24 | |
8:18 | Latrell Wrightsell Jr. shooting foul (Baylor Scheierman draws the foul) | |||
8:18 | +1 | Baylor Scheierman makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-25 | |
8:07 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point layup | 23-25 | |
7:46 | Francisco Farabello turnover (lost ball) (Aaron Estrada steals) | |||
7:40 | Mason Miller personal foul (Jarin Stevenson draws the foul) | |||
7:40 | TV timeout | |||
7:23 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point driving finger roll layup | 25-25 | |
6:50 | +2 | Baylor Scheierman makes two point layup | 25-27 | |
6:50 | Jarin Stevenson shooting foul (Baylor Scheierman draws the foul) | |||
6:50 | +1 | Baylor Scheierman makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-28 | |
6:22 | Trey Alexander personal foul (Aaron Estrada draws the foul) | |||
6:22 | +1 | Aaron Estrada makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-28 | |
6:22 | +1 | Aaron Estrada makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-28 | |
6:10 | Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot | |||
6:08 | Nick Pringle defensive rebound | |||
5:59 | Jarin Stevenson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:57 | Trey Alexander defensive rebound | |||
5:57 | Mark Sears personal foul (Trey Alexander draws the foul) | |||
5:57 | +1 | Trey Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-29 | |
5:57 | +1 | Trey Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-30 | |
5:45 | +2 | Mark Sears makes two point driving layup | 29-30 | |
5:20 | +2 | Baylor Scheierman makes two point stepback jump shot | 29-32 | |
4:47 | +2 | Jarin Stevenson makes two point hook shot | 31-32 | |
4:27 | Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot | |||
4:25 | Nick Pringle defensive rebound | |||
4:14 | +2 | Aaron Estrada makes two point driving layup | 33-32 | |
3:59 | +2 | Trey Alexander makes two point driving reverse layup | 33-34 | |
3:49 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point alley-oop dunk (Aaron Estrada assists) | 35-34 | |
3:23 | Aaron Estrada shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul) | |||
3:23 | TV timeout | |||
3:23 | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-35 | |
3:23 | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-36 | |
3:10 | Davin Cosby Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
3:08 | Nick Pringle offensive rebound | |||
3:07 | +2 | Nick Pringle makes two point putback layup | 37-36 | |
3:07 | Jasen Green shooting foul (Nick Pringle draws the foul) | |||
3:07 | +1 | Nick Pringle makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 38-36 | |
2:51 | Trey Alexander misses two point jump shot | |||
2:49 | Jasen Green offensive rebound | |||
2:48 | +2 | Jasen Green makes two point putback layup | 38-38 | |
2:33 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
2:31 | Nick Pringle offensive rebound | |||
2:28 | Nick Pringle misses two point layup | |||
2:28 | Jarin Stevenson offensive rebound | |||
2:28 | +2 | Jarin Stevenson makes two point layup | 40-38 | |
2:28 | Official timeout | |||
2:28 | Nick Pringle personal foul | |||
2:28 | Trey Alexander misses flagrant free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:28 | +1 | Trey Alexander makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2 | 40-39 | |
2:19 | Fredrick King offensive foul (Mark Sears draws the foul) | |||
2:19 | Fredrick King turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:08 | Mark Sears misses three point jump shot | |||
2:07 | Bluejays defensive rebound | |||
1:52 | +3 | Baylor Scheierman makes three point jump shot (Francisco Farabello assists) | 40-42 | |
1:54 | Crimson Tide 30 second timeout | |||
1:36 | +2 | Rylan Griffen makes two point driving layup | 42-42 | |
1:11 | +2 | Trey Alexander makes two point driving layup | 42-44 | |
0:56 | Aaron Estrada misses three point jump shot | |||
0:54 | Davin Cosby Jr. offensive rebound | |||
0:51 | Davin Cosby Jr. misses two point putback layup | |||
0:49 | Aaron Estrada offensive rebound | |||
0:44 | +2 | Davin Cosby Jr. makes two point driving layup | 44-44 | |
0:09 | Trey Alexander misses two point jump shot | |||
0:09 | Bluejays turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:03 | Sam Walters misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Sam Walters offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |