Alexander's fadeaway with 0.2 seconds left lifts No. 10 Creighton over Villanova 69-67
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Trey Alexander hit a fadeaway jumper with 0.2 seconds left and finished with 17 points to give No. 10 Creighton a 69-67 win over Villanova on Saturday.
Baylor Scheierman scored 11 of his 18 points in Creighton’s dominating first half. Ryan Kalkbrenner added 14 points for Creighton (23-8, 14-6 Big East), which clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big East Tournament. The victory also avenged a 68-66 overtime loss to Villanova on Dec. 20, giving Creighton a victory over every conference team this season.
Creighton coach Greg McDermott told Alexander last offseason after the junior guard bypassed the pros that he would have the ball in his hands at the ends of games.
“Today I delivered on that promise, and he delivered on what I thought would happen,” McDermott said.
Eric Dixon scored 25 points and Justin Moore had 17 points for Villanova (17-14, 10-10), which lost a game that it needed to better its chances at an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“Tough, tough shot,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said.
Dixon was fouled and hit all three free throws with 23.6 seconds remaining to tie it at 67. Alexander then dribbled through the lane and hit a fadeaway from about 10 feet away with 0.2 seconds left.
“He’s one of the best in the country in that pull-up midrange shot,” McDermott said. "I don’t like those shots much, but I do when he takes them."
Alexander said it's a shot he has rehearsed for hours in practice, including watching film of NBA players using a similar fadeaway.
“I knew it was coming to me, and I knew what shot I wanted to take,” he said. “I work on those a lot. It was a shot I knew I was going to take. It’s just continuous reps.”
While the Bluejays are a lock for an NCAA tourney berth, the Wildcats likely will need a deep run in the conference tournament to avoid missing March Madness for the second straight season in both years under Neptune.
Neptune replaced Hall of Famer Jay Wright following the 2022 season when Wright surprisingly retired after leading Villanova to the Final Four. Villanova won a pair of championships, in 2016 and 2018, under Wright.
“We all understand the situation,” Neptune said. “Everyone in this room, all the fans know it, but for us it doesn’t really do us any good to focus on it. We have to focus on what we can do each day to prepare ourselves to play Villanova basketball for 40 minutes. That’s the best way to put ourselves in the best possible position.”
The Wildcats fell behind early and trailed by 11 points at the half. They twice cut the second-half deficit to seven points, but the Bluejays surged ahead 63-49 with 6:14 remaining.
Villanova made a furious final push. The Wildcats scored 12 straight points, getting five apiece from Mark Armstrong and Dixon, before Moore’s layup ended the run to pull the Wildcats within 63-61 with 2:34 left. After a Kalkbrenner hook, Moore’s 3-pointer with 1:33 to play made it 65-64. Kalkbrenner dunked to push Creighton’s lead to 67-64 with 59 seconds remaining.
After TJ Bamba’s steal of Steven Ashworth with 34 seconds to play, Dixon made the three free throws before Alexander's clutch shot. Bamba threw a long inbounds pass to Dixon, whose shot at the buzzer was off.
“We knew we had to play much better and play with a sense of pride and urgency, and our guys did that,” Neptune said. “I was proud of the way our guys battled to the very end.”
The Bluejays were up 21-3 early in the first half, which resulted in a Neptune timeout as boos rained down on the Wildcats from the home fans at the school’s alternate home court at the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Philadelphia 76ers.
“We got off to a ridiculous start, and we were fortunate we did,” McDermott said.
UP NEXT
Creighton: Plays in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament on Thursday in New York against the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 10 seeds.
Villanova: Plays in the first round of the conference tournament on Wednesday in New York.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Ryan Kalkbrenner vs. Eric Dixon (Baylor Scheierman gains possession) | |||
19:42 | +2 | Trey Alexander makes two point jump shot | 2-0 | |
19:21 | Eric Dixon misses three point jump shot | |||
19:19 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
19:12 | +3 | Trey Alexander makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 5-0 | |
18:46 | Tyler Burton misses two point jump shot | |||
18:44 | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | |||
18:22 | +2 | Steven Ashworth makes two point layup | 7-0 | |
18:07 | Justin Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
18:05 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
17:59 | +3 | Trey Alexander makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 10-0 | |
17:58 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
17:35 | Baylor Scheierman personal foul (Eric Dixon draws the foul) | |||
17:27 | Justin Moore misses two point layup | |||
17:25 | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | |||
17:19 | Mason Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
17:17 | Justin Moore defensive rebound | |||
17:17 | Justin Moore turnover (out of bounds) | |||
17:09 | Trey Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
17:07 | Mark Armstrong defensive rebound | |||
16:49 | Eric Dixon misses two point layup | |||
16:47 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
16:39 | +2 | Baylor Scheierman makes two point jump shot | 12-0 | |
16:12 | +3 | Jordan Longino makes three point jump shot (Hakim Hart assists) | 12-3 | |
15:48 | +3 | Baylor Scheierman makes three point jump shot (Trey Alexander assists) | 15-3 | |
15:13 | Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
15:13 | TV timeout | |||
14:57 | Trey Alexander misses two point jump shot | |||
14:55 | Justin Moore defensive rebound | |||
14:46 | Hakim Hart misses two point layup | |||
14:44 | Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound | |||
14:37 | +3 | Mason Miller makes three point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists) | 18-3 | |
14:09 | Hakim Hart turnover (bad pass) (Trey Alexander steals) | |||
14:00 | +3 | Baylor Scheierman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists) | 21-3 | |
14:00 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
13:50 | TJ Bamba misses two point layup | |||
13:48 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
13:43 | +3 | Mason Miller makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 24-3 | |
13:25 | +2 | Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Brendan Hausen assists) | 24-5 | |
13:04 | Mason Miller misses three point jump shot | |||
13:02 | Bluejays offensive rebound | |||
13:02 | Brendan Hausen personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul) | |||
12:58 | +3 | Steven Ashworth makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 27-5 | |
12:41 | Brendan Hausen misses three point jump shot | |||
12:39 | Trey Alexander defensive rebound | |||
12:31 | Trey Alexander turnover (lost ball) (TJ Bamba steals) | |||
12:26 | Hakim Hart misses two point layup | |||
12:26 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
12:13 | +3 | TJ Bamba makes three point jump shot (Mark Armstrong assists) | 27-8 | |
12:04 | +3 | Baylor Scheierman makes three point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists) | 30-8 | |
11:48 | Mark Armstrong misses two point jump shot | |||
11:46 | Baylor Scheierman defensive rebound | |||
11:39 | Trey Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
11:37 | Brendan Hausen defensive rebound | |||
11:28 | Fredrick King blocks Lance Ware's two point layup | |||
11:26 | Jasen Green defensive rebound | |||
11:19 | Lance Ware personal foul | |||
11:19 | TV timeout | |||
10:56 | Ryan Kalkbrenner misses three point jump shot | |||
10:54 | Lance Ware defensive rebound | |||
10:35 | Mark Armstrong turnover (lost ball) (Baylor Scheierman steals) | |||
10:30 | Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot | |||
10:28 | Wildcats defensive rebound | |||
10:10 | TJ Bamba misses two point layup | |||
10:08 | TJ Bamba offensive rebound | |||
10:07 | Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks TJ Bamba's two point layup | |||
10:07 | Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound | |||
9:46 | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 32-8 | |
9:24 | Jordan Longino turnover (lost ball) (Baylor Scheierman steals) | |||
9:13 | Trey Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
9:11 | Jordan Longino defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | Baylor Scheierman personal foul (Jordan Longino draws the foul) | |||
8:53 | Justin Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
8:51 | Trey Alexander defensive rebound | |||
8:38 | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | |||
8:36 | Tyler Burton defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | Brendan Hausen misses three point jump shot | |||
8:24 | Jasen Green defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | |||
7:57 | Eric Dixon defensive rebound | |||
7:49 | +3 | Eric Dixon makes three point jump shot (Tyler Burton assists) | 32-11 | |
7:29 | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | |||
7:27 | Jasen Green offensive rebound | |||
7:25 | Jump ball. Jasen Green vs. Jordan Longino (Jordan Longino gains possession) | |||
7:25 | Jasen Green turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Longino steals) | |||
7:25 | TV timeout | |||
7:12 | +2 | Justin Moore makes two point jump shot | 32-13 | |
6:47 | +2 | Trey Alexander makes two point jump shot | 34-13 | |
6:21 | +3 | Justin Moore makes three point jump shot (Eric Dixon assists) | 34-16 | |
6:08 | Steven Ashworth turnover (bad pass) (Eric Dixon steals) | |||
5:48 | Eric Dixon misses two point layup | |||
5:46 | Francisco Farabello defensive rebound | |||
5:32 | Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive foul | |||
5:32 | Ryan Kalkbrenner turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:12 | +2 | Justin Moore makes two point layup | 34-18 | |
4:45 | Trey Alexander misses three point jump shot | |||
4:43 | Jordan Longino defensive rebound | |||
4:33 | Justin Moore turnover (lost ball) (Steven Ashworth steals) | |||
4:12 | Mark Armstrong blocks Francisco Farabello's two point layup | |||
4:10 | Eric Dixon defensive rebound | |||
4:01 | +2 | Eric Dixon makes two point layup (Hakim Hart assists) | 34-20 | |
4:00 | Bluejays 30 second timeout | |||
4:00 | TV timeout | |||
3:45 | Ryan Kalkbrenner misses three point jump shot | |||
3:43 | TJ Bamba defensive rebound | |||
3:33 | +2 | TJ Bamba makes two point jump shot | 34-22 | |
3:21 | Steven Ashworth turnover (lost ball) (Mark Armstrong steals) | |||
3:16 | +2 | Mark Armstrong makes two point layup | 34-24 | |
3:09 | Mark Armstrong personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul) | |||
3:03 | +3 | Steven Ashworth makes three point jump shot | 37-24 | |
2:44 | Jordan Longino misses three point jump shot | |||
2:42 | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Eric Dixon blocks Ryan Kalkbrenner's two point layup | |||
2:28 | Mason Miller offensive rebound | |||
2:28 | Hakim Hart personal foul (Mason Miller draws the foul) | |||
2:19 | TJ Bamba personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul) | |||
2:16 | Mason Miller turnover (out of bounds) | |||
1:53 | Jordan Longino misses three point jump shot | |||
1:51 | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | |||
1:28 | Steven Ashworth misses two point layup | |||
1:26 | Hakim Hart defensive rebound | |||
1:19 | +2 | Eric Dixon makes two point layup | 37-26 | |
1:03 | TJ Bamba blocks Trey Alexander's two point layup | |||
1:01 | Mark Armstrong defensive rebound | |||
0:50 | +3 | Eric Dixon makes three point jump shot (TJ Bamba assists) | 37-29 | |
0:32 | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point dunk (Steven Ashworth assists) | 39-29 | |
0:32 | TJ Bamba shooting foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul) | |||
0:32 | +1 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-29 | |
0:01 | Eric Dixon misses two point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Bluejays defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:47 | Trey Alexander turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Burton steals) | |||
19:31 | Eric Dixon misses three point jump shot | |||
19:29 | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | |||
19:22 | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | |||
19:20 | Mark Armstrong defensive rebound | |||
18:56 | +3 | Justin Moore makes three point jump shot (TJ Bamba assists) | 40-32 | |
18:36 | +3 | Trey Alexander makes three point jump shot (Baylor Scheierman assists) | 43-32 | |
18:08 | +2 | Tyler Burton makes two point layup | 43-34 | |
17:51 | Tyler Burton personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul) | |||
17:32 | Trey Alexander misses two point jump shot | |||
17:30 | Tyler Burton defensive rebound | |||
17:03 | +2 | Mark Armstrong makes two point jump shot | 43-36 | |
16:32 | Baylor Scheierman misses three point jump shot | |||
16:30 | Jordan Longino defensive rebound | |||
16:18 | Mark Armstrong turnover (bad pass) (Steven Ashworth steals) | |||
16:14 | +2 |