Ryan Kalkbrenner scores 49 points as No. 15 Creighton wins opener 99-86 over UT-Rio Grande Valley
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Big East preseason player of the year Ryan Kalkbrenner scored a career-high 49 points and 15th-ranked Creighton needed just about every one of them in a season-opening 99-86 win over UT-Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday night.
Creighton, a Sweet 16 team three of the last four seasons, couldn't shake off the Vaqueros of the Southland Conference until the final two minutes.
The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner's point total was the second-highest in program history behind Bob Portman's 51 against UW-Milwaukee in 1967. The fifth-year center was an astonishing 20 of 22 from the field, including 2 for 2 on 3-pointers, and he made 7 of 8 free throws. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.
Steven Ashworth scored 25 points for the Bluejays and set a school record by making 17 of 17 free throws.
Hasan Abdul-Hakim had 24 points and Cliff Davis and DK Thorn added 17 apiece for the Vaqueros (0-2), who were within 87-82 when Howie Fleming Jr. made a fifth-chance basket with 2:37 left.
UT Rio Grande Valley: The Vaqueros kept it close by going 14 of 35 on 3-pointers and outworking Creighton on the boards in the second half. They finished with 19 second-chance points. They dropped to 0-14 against Top 25 opponents and have lost 56 straight against power-conference opponents, according to Sportradar.
Creighton: The Bluejays were 30-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and got more than they bargained for against the Vaqueros. Coach Greg McDermott was forced to play his starters until the final minute.
Kalkbrenner scored 10 straight points in a variety of ways in the first half. He made a free throw, hit a 3 from the wing, dunked a lob from Jamiya Neal, beat the player guarding him downcourt for a fast-break layup and showed some post moves for an easy bucket.
Creighton won its 30th straight home opener, a streak that started in 1995.
Creighton hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday in the second of four home games over 11 days. UT-Rio Grande Valley returns home to play Champion Christian College on Sunday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | Â | (Bluejays gains possession) | Â |
| 19:42 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup | 0-2 |
| 19:25 |  | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 19:23 | | Â | Tommy Gankhuyag offensive rebound | Â |
| 19:22 | | Â | Steven Ashworth personal foul | Â |
| 19:19 | | +3 | DK Thorn makes three point jump shot (Hasan Abdul-Hakim assists) | 3-2 |
| 18:54 | | Â | Jamiya Neal turnover (bad pass) (Tommy Gankhuyag steals) | Â |
| 18:40 | | +3 | Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes three point jump shot (Tommy Gankhuyag assists) | 6-2 |
| 18:28 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup | 6-4 |
| 18:11 | | Â | Trey Miller misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 18:09 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound | Â |
| 17:45 | | Â | Jasen Green turnover (bad pass) (Hasan Abdul-Hakim steals) | Â |
| 17:36 | | Â | Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 17:34 | | Â | Jasen Green defensive rebound | Â |
| 17:34 | | Â | Tommy Gankhuyag personal foul (Jasen Green draws the foul) | Â |
| 17:20 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup | 6-6 |
| 17:06 | | +3 | Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes three point jump shot (Trey Miller assists) | 9-6 |
| 16:55 | | Â | Jamiya Neal misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 16:53 | | Â | Mason Miller offensive rebound | Â |
| 16:48 | | Â | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 16:46 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound | Â |
| 16:32 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 16:30 | | Â | Mason Miller defensive rebound | Â |
| 16:18 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup | 9-8 |
| 16:11 | | +3 | DK Thorn makes three point jump shot | 12-8 |
| 16:02 | | Â | Tommy Gankhuyag shooting foul | Â |
| 16:02 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 16:02 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-9 |
| 16:02 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-10 |
| 15:51 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 15:49 | | Â | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | Â |
| 15:41 | | Â | Marshal Destremau personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul) | Â |
| 15:36 | | Â | Steven Ashworth misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 15:34 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound | Â |
| 15:32 | | Â | Jamiya Neal personal foul (Hasan Abdul-Hakim draws the foul) | Â |
| 15:24 | | +2 | Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point jump shot | 14-10 |
| 15:02 | | +3 | Isaac Traudt makes three point jump shot (Mason Miller assists) | 14-13 |
| 14:29 | | Â | Marshal Destremau misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 14:27 | | Â | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | Â |
| 14:17 | | Â | Trey Miller shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul) | Â |
| 14:17 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-14 |
| 14:17 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-15 |
| 14:05 | | Â | DK Thorn misses two point layup | Â |
| 14:03 | | Â | Trey Miller offensive rebound | Â |
| 14:00 | | +2 | Trey Miller makes two point layup | 16-15 |
| 13:55 | | Â | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 13:53 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound | Â |
| 13:42 | | +2 | Shane Thomas makes two point dunk (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists) | 16-17 |
| 13:27 | | Â | DK Thorn misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 13:25 | | Â | Jamiya Neal defensive rebound | Â |
| 13:18 | | +3 | Isaac Traudt makes three point jump shot (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists) | 16-20 |
| 12:59 | | Â | Isaac Traudt shooting foul (Trey Miller draws the foul) | Â |
| 12:58 | | Â | Trey Miller misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â |
| 12:58 | | +1 | Trey Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-20 |
| 12:36 | | Â | Isaac Traudt misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 12:34 | | Â | Trey Miller defensive rebound | Â |
| 12:29 | | Â | Howard Fleming Jr. turnover (traveling) | Â |
| 12:07 | | +3 | Steven Ashworth makes three point jump shot (Fredrick King assists) | 17-23 |
| 11:55 | | +3 | Marshal Destremau makes three point jump shot (Howard Fleming Jr. assists) | 20-23 |
| 11:46 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 11:19 | | Â | Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 11:17 | | Â | Cliff Davis defensive rebound | Â |
| 10:49 | | +3 | Marshal Destremau makes three point jump shot (Hasan Abdul-Hakim assists) | 23-23 |
| 10:42 | | Â | Shane Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Marshal Destremau steals) | Â |
| 10:36 | | Â | Jaylen Washington turnover (lost ball) (Jasen Green steals) | Â |
| 10:22 | | Â | Howard Fleming Jr. personal foul | Â |
| 10:07 | | Â | Jackson McAndrew misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 10:05 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound | Â |
| 10:03 | | Â | Kwo Agwa shooting foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul) | Â |
| 10:03 | | +1 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-24 |
| 10:03 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â |
| 10:03 | | Â | Cliff Davis defensive rebound | Â |
| 9:37 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 9:35 | | Â | Jasen Green defensive rebound | Â |
| 9:19 | | Â | Jasen Green turnover (traveling) | Â |
| 9:02 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 9:00 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound | Â |
| 8:48 | | +3 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes three point jump shot | 23-27 |
| 8:24 | | Â | Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 8:22 | | Â | Ty Davis defensive rebound | Â |
| 8:06 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 8:04 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound | Â |
| 7:58 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim turnover (double dribble) | Â |
| 7:58 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 7:47 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jamiya Neal assists) | 23-29 |
| 7:24 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 7:22 | | Â | Ty Davis defensive rebound | Â |
| 7:01 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner misses two point hook shot | Â |
| 6:59 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound | Â |
| 6:49 | | +2 | Trey Miller makes two point jump shot | 25-29 |
| 6:40 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Ty Davis assists) | 25-31 |
| 6:17 | | +2 | Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup | 27-31 |
| 5:45 | | Â | Mason Miller misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 5:43 | | Â | Jackson McAndrew offensive rebound | Â |
| 5:35 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point hook shot (Ty Davis assists) | 27-33 |
| 5:34 | | Â | Vaqueros 30 second timeout | Â |
| 5:21 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 5:19 | | Â | Jamiya Neal defensive rebound | Â |
| 5:12 | | Â | Jackson McAndrew misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 5:10 | | Â | Vaqueros defensive rebound | Â |
| 4:48 | | Â | Tommy Gankhuyag misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 4:46 | | Â | Jackson McAndrew defensive rebound | Â |
| 4:38 | | +2 | Ty Davis makes two point layup | 27-35 |
| 4:27 | | +3 | Tommy Gankhuyag makes three point jump shot (Trey Miller assists) | 30-35 |
| 4:19 | | +2 | Steven Ashworth makes two point layup | 30-37 |
| 4:19 | | Â | Howard Fleming Jr. shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul) | Â |
| 4:19 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 30-38 |
| 4:03 | | +2 | Trey Miller makes two point jump shot (Hasan Abdul-Hakim assists) | 32-38 |
| 3:44 | | Â | Trey Miller personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul) | Â |
| 3:44 | | Â | TV timeout | Â |
| 3:44 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-39 |
| 3:44 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-40 |
| 3:26 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim turnover (traveling) | Â |
| 2:56 | | Â | Jamiya Neal misses two point jump shot | Â |
| 2:54 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound | Â |
| 2:40 | | Â | Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 2:38 | | Â | Ty Davis defensive rebound | Â |
| 2:29 | | +2 | Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Steven Ashworth assists) | 32-42 |
| 2:13 | | Â | Tommy Gankhuyag misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 2:11 | | Â | Steven Ashworth defensive rebound | Â |
| 2:11 | | Â | RJ Nance personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul) | Â |
| 2:11 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-43 |
| 2:11 | | +1 | Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-44 |
| 1:52 | | +3 | Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot | 35-44 |
| 1:42 | | +2 | Isaac Traudt makes two point dunk (Steven Ashworth assists) | 35-46 |
| 1:24 | | Â | Trey Miller misses two point layup | Â |
| 1:22 | | Â | Mason Miller defensive rebound | Â |
| 1:12 | | Â | Isaac Traudt misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 1:10 | | Â | Howard Fleming Jr. defensive rebound | Â |
| 1:04 | | Â | DK Thorn misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 1:02 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound | Â |
| 0:37 | | Â | Ryan Kalkbrenner turnover (traveling) | Â |
| 0:14 | | +2 | Cliff Davis makes two point layup | 37-46 |
| 0:14 | | Â | Ty Davis shooting foul (Cliff Davis draws the foul) | Â |
| 0:14 | | +1 | Cliff Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 38-46 |
| 0:02 | | Â | Mason Miller misses three point jump shot | Â |
| 0:00 | | Â | DK Thorn defensive rebound | Â |
| 0:00 | | Â | End of period | Â |