McNeeley scores 38 points to lead UConn past No. 24 Creighton 70-66 for 1st win in Omaha
AP
Feb 11, 2025
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Liam McNeeley scored a season-high 38 points and had 10 rebounds, and UConn overcame a 14-point deficit late in the first half to end No. 24 Creighton Bluejays's nine-game winning streak with a 70-66 victory Tuesday night.
Alex Karaban’s floater in the lane broke a 65-all tie with 1:44 left, and the Huskies (17-7, 9-4 Big East) won for the first time in five trips to Omaha since rejoining the Big East in 2020.
Creighton (18-7, 11-3), which re-entered the AP Top 25 this week for the first time since late November, shot just 30% in the second half while losing for the first time since Jan. 3.
McNeeley carried the Huskies all night in his second game back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for eight games. The freshman standout had his fourth double-double, and he scored 23 points and made four of his season-high five 3s after halftime.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth led the Bluejays with 13 points apiece. Ashworth shot just 1 of 8 from the field but made 11 of 12 free throws.
UConn: The Huskies, playing as an unranked team for the first time since the start of the 2022-23 season, avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time since November.
Creighton: The Bluejays made just 40.4% from the field, including 29.2% from 3-point range. Ashworth failed to make a 3-pointer for the first time this season.
UConn took its first lead when McNeeley made back-to-back 3s in the middle of the second half. Creighton called a timeout after the second one put UConn up 51-46, and McNeeley shouted and raised his arms in the direction of fans behind the Huskies' bench before joining the huddle.
UConn committed only six turnovers after coughing up the ball a combined 47 times in its previous two games.
UConn visits Seton Hall on Saturday.
Creighton plays No. 9 St. John's at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
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1st Half
UCONN
Huskies
29
CREI
Bluejays
37
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Samson Johnson vs. Ryan Kalkbrenner (Bluejays gains possession)
19:41
+3
Jamiya Neal makes three point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists)
0-3
19:17
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Alex Karaban assists)
3-3
18:58
Steven Ashworth turnover (bad pass) (Jaylin Stewart steals)
18:46
Jasen Green blocks Solo Ball's two point layup
18:44
Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
18:39
+2
Jasen Green makes two point layup (Steven Ashworth assists)
3-5
18:08
Liam McNeeley misses two point layup
18:06
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
17:49
Ryan Kalkbrenner turnover (bad pass)
17:38
Alex Karaban misses two point layup
17:36
Jackson McAndrew defensive rebound
17:27
Samson Johnson shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
17:27
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2
3-6
17:27
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2
3-7
17:10
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
17:08
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
16:56
Tarris Reed Jr. shooting foul (Jasen Green draws the foul)
16:56
Jasen Green misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:56
Jasen Green misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:56
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
16:35
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point jump shot
5-7
16:35
Steven Ashworth shooting foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
16:35
Liam McNeeley misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:35
Jackson McAndrew defensive rebound
16:15
+3
Jasen Green makes three point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists)
5-10
15:46
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point jump shot (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)
7-10
15:32
Ryan Kalkbrenner misses two point hook shot
15:30
Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound
15:10
Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks Liam McNeeley's two point jump shot
15:08
Liam McNeeley offensive rebound
15:07
Jackson McAndrew shooting foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
15:07
TV timeout
15:07
+1
Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2
8-10
15:07
+1
Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2
9-10
14:51
Jackson McAndrew misses three point jump shot
14:50
Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
14:50
Hassan Diarra personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
14:47
Jasen Green turnover (bad pass) (Hassan Diarra steals)
14:40
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
14:38
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive rebound
14:35
Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks Tarris Reed Jr.'s two point layup
14:33
Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
14:25
Jamiya Neal misses three point jump shot
14:23
Jackson McAndrew offensive rebound
14:19
Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
14:17
Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
14:04
Hassan Diarra misses two point layup
14:02
Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
13:55
Steven Ashworth misses two point jump shot
13:53
Solo Ball defensive rebound
13:34
Hassan Diarra turnover (bad pass)
13:07
Aidan Mahaney shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
13:07
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 3
9-11
13:07
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 3
9-12
13:07
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 3 of 3
9-13
12:50
Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
12:48
Alex Karaban offensive rebound
12:46
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point layup
11-13
12:26
+2
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point dunk (Jamiya Neal assists)
11-15
11:58
Liam McNeeley turnover (double dribble)
11:58
TV timeout
11:38
+2
Steven Ashworth makes two point layup (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists)
11-17
11:19
+2
Aidan Mahaney makes two point jump shot (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)
13-17
10:56
Tarris Reed Jr. personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
10:48
Aidan Mahaney shooting foul (Mason Miller draws the foul)
10:48
Official timeout
10:48
+1
Mason Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 2
13-18
10:48
+1
Mason Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-19
10:33
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point jump shot
15-19
10:03
Mason Miller turnover (bad pass) (Samson Johnson steals)
9:57
+2
Solo Ball makes two point jump shot
17-19
9:44
Samson Johnson personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
9:44
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2
17-20
9:44
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-21
9:29
Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
9:25
Bluejays defensive rebound
9:13
Jamiya Neal turnover (bad pass) (Tarris Reed Jr. steals)
9:04
Liam McNeeley misses two point jump shot
9:02
Bluejays defensive rebound
8:48
+2
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Steven Ashworth assists)
17-23
8:29
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
8:27
Isaac Traudt defensive rebound
8:22
Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
8:20
Solo Ball defensive rebound
8:14
Jamiya Neal shooting foul (Solo Ball draws the foul)
8:14
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-23
8:14
+1
Solo Ball makes regular free throw 2 of 2
19-23
7:58
Jamiya Neal misses three point jump shot
7:56
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
7:41
Steven Ashworth personal foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
7:41
TV timeout
7:41
+1
Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-23
7:41
+1
Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-23
7:24
+2
Jamiya Neal makes two point layup
21-25
6:59
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive foul (Jamiya Neal draws the foul)
6:59
Tarris Reed Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
6:31
+2
Jasen Green makes two point jump shot
21-27
6:20
Huskies 30 second timeout
6:02
Solo Ball misses two point layup
6:00
Jasen Green defensive rebound
5:41
Ty Davis misses two point layup
5:39
Hassan Diarra defensive rebound
5:35
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
5:33
Jasen Green defensive rebound
5:07
+3
Jackson McAndrew makes three point jump shot (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists)
21-30
4:47
Jaylin Stewart misses three point jump shot
4:45
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
4:39
+2
Jackson McAndrew makes two point layup (Jamiya Neal assists)
21-32
4:11
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point layup
23-32
3:48
+2
Jamiya Neal makes two point dunk
23-34
3:25
Hassan Diarra misses three point jump shot
3:23
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
3:05
+3
Jamiya Neal makes three point jump shot
23-37
2:57
Huskies 30 second timeout
2:57
TV timeout
2:44
+2
Samson Johnson makes two point layup (Liam McNeeley assists)
25-37
2:11
Jasen Green misses three point jump shot
2:09
Solo Ball defensive rebound
2:01
+2
Solo Ball makes two point jump shot
27-37
1:44
Ty Davis misses three point jump shot
1:42
Alex Karaban defensive rebound
1:15
Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot
1:13
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
1:00
Jamiya Neal misses two point layup
0:58
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
0:47
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point hook shot
29-37
0:44
Bluejays 30 second timeout
0:30
Steven Ashworth turnover (bad pass) (Youssouf Singare steals)
0:03
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
0:01
Isaac Traudt defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
UCONN
Huskies
41
CREI
Bluejays
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:45
Solo Ball misses two point jump shot
19:43
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
19:40
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
19:38
Samson Johnson offensive rebound
19:32
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point layup
31-37
19:12
Ryan Kalkbrenner misses two point hook shot
19:10
Samson Johnson defensive rebound
19:00
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
18:58
Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound
18:55
+2
Jaylin Stewart makes two point putback layup
33-37
18:35
Jasen Green turnover (bad pass) (Samson Johnson steals)
18:29
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Solo Ball assists)
36-37
18:11
Liam McNeeley shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
18:11
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2
36-38
18:11
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2
36-39
17:52
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point floating jump shot
38-39
17:25
Jaylin Stewart shooting foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
17:25
+1
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-40
17:25
+1
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-41
17:06
Solo Ball misses two point jump shot
17:04
Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
16:52
Samson Johnson shooting foul (Jasen Green draws the foul)
16:52
Jasen Green misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:52
+1
Jasen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-42
16:33
+2
Solo Ball makes two point layup
40-42
16:06
Tarris Reed Jr. blocks Ryan Kalkbrenner's two point hook shot
16:04
Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
16:02
Ryan Kalkbrenner misses two point jump shot
16:00
Huskies defensive rebound
16:00
TV timeout
15:50
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
15:48
Jaylin Stewart offensive rebound
15:43
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
15:41
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive rebound
15:37
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
15:35
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
15:27
+3
Isaac Traudt makes three point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists)
40-45
15:00
+3
Jaylin Stewart makes three point jump shot (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)
43-45
14:45
Tarris Reed Jr. personal foul (Jamiya Neal draws the foul)
14:29
Jamiya Neal misses three point jump shot
14:27
Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
14:26
Samson Johnson personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
14:22
Steven Ashworth misses two point layup
14:20
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
14:16
Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
14:09
Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
14:09
Jump ball. Steven Ashworth vs. Alex Karaban (Bluejays gains possession)
13:54
Aidan Mahaney shooting foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
13:54
Ryan Kalkbrenner misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:54
+1
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 2 of 2
43-46
13:36
+2
Solo Ball makes two point layup
45-46
13:30
Steven Ashworth turnover (bad pass)
13:16
Aidan Mahaney misses two point layup
13:14
Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
12:55
Isaac Traudt misses three point jump shot
12:53
Mason Miller offensive rebound
12:45
Jamiya Neal misses two point jump shot
12:43
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
12:34
Jaylin Stewart misses three point jump shot
12:32
Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
12:28
Solo Ball blocks Isaac Traudt's two point layup
12:26
Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound
12:19
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
12:17
Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
12:15
Liam McNeeley personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
12:15
Steven Ashworth misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:15
Jaylin Stewart defensive rebound
11:54
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Aidan Mahaney assists)
48-46
11:37
Mason Miller misses three point jump shot
11:35
Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound
11:28
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Aidan Mahaney assists)
51-46
11:27
Bluejays 30 second timeout
11:27
TV timeout
11:11
Steven Ashworth turnover (lost ball) (Liam McNeeley steals)
11:06
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point dunk
53-46
10:48
+2
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Isaac Traudt assists)
53-48
10:30
Jaylin Stewart turnover (lost ball) (Mason Miller steals)
10:25
+2
Jamiya Neal makes two point dunk
53-50
10:02
Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks Solo Ball's two point layup
10:00
Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
9:49
Jamiya Neal misses two point layup
9:47
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
9:42
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
9:40
Mason Miller defensive rebound
9:24
Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
9:22
Solo Ball defensive rebound
9:07
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
9:05
Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
8:38
Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
8:36
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
8:25
Alex Karaban misses three point jump shot
8:23
Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
8:15
Steven Ashworth turnover (lost ball) (Solo Ball steals)
8:09
+2
Aidan Mahaney makes two point layup (Solo Ball assists)
55-50
7:52
Mason Miller misses three point jump shot
7:50
Liam McNeeley defensive rebound
7:26
+3
Liam McNeeley makes three point jump shot (Solo Ball assists)
58-50
7:16
Alex Karaban shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
7:16
TV timeout
7:16
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2
58-51
7:16
+1
Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2
58-52
6:50
Solo Ball misses two point layup
6:48
Alex Karaban offensive rebound
6:47
+2
Alex Karaban makes two point putback layup
60-52
6:30
+3
Fedor Žugić makes three point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists)
60-55
6:09
Solo Ball misses three point jump shot
6:07
Isaac Traudt defensive rebound
5:42
+2
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Steven Ashworth assists)
60-57
5:32
Huskies 30 second timeout
5:32
TV timeout
5:20
Jamiya Neal shooting foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
5:20
+1
Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 2
61-57
5:20
+1
Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-57
5:02
Jackson McAndrew misses three point jump shot
5:00
Solo Ball defensive rebound
4:41
Solo Ball misses two point jump shot
4:39
Bluejays defensive rebound
4:24
+2
Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Fedor Žugić assists)
62-59
4:02
Liam McNeeley misses two point layup
4:00
Tarris Reed Jr. offensive rebound
4:00
Tarris Reed Jr. misses two point tip layup
3:58
Liam McNeeley offensive rebound
3:54
+2
Liam McNeeley makes two point layup
64-59
3:54
Jamiya Neal shooting foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
3:54
TV timeout
3:54
+1
Liam McNeeley makes regular free throw 1 of 1
65-59
3:31
+3
Jackson McAndrew makes three point jump shot (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists)
65-62
3:07
Liam McNeeley misses three point jump shot
3:05
Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
2:41
Jaylin Stewart shooting foul (Fedor Žugić draws the foul)
2:41
+1
Fedor Žugić makes regular free throw 1 of 2
65-63
2:41
+1
Fedor Žugić makes regular free throw 2 of 2
65-64
2:26
Jamiya Neal personal foul (Liam McNeeley draws the foul)
