OMAHA, Neb. - Matt Lander and Kaimarr Price scored 15 points apiece but Creighton used a second
half run to pull away, defeating Western Illinois 60-47 Monday night (Dec. 20)
in the Qwest Center. The Leathernecks dropped to 5-6 overall.
Down 11 at the half, Price was trading baskets with
Creighton - hitting three straight jumpers - as Western cut the deficit to
seven points. The Leathernecks held the Bluejays scoreless for three minutes in
that span. However, Ethan Wragge hit two free throws, Antoine Young hit a
basket then Wragge drained a 3-pointer extending the lead to 47-35 with nine
minutes left.
Doug McDermott hit a '3' and Western could not get the
deficit below double-digits down the stretch. Western head coach Jim Molinari
noted Creighton's inside presence as a key to Creighton's win.
"I thought our effort was better but the difference in the
game was (Creighton center) Gregory Echenique. He scored (game-high) 16 points
(off the bench) and went to the line for 14 free throws," said Molinari. "We
started the second half slow then we made an adjustment and did much better. I
told our players if we play with that effort we will get better."
Echenique, in just his second game for Creighton since
becoming eligible, also blocked four shots in 21 minutes off the bench. Kenny
Lawson, Jr., the Missouri Valley Conference 'Preseason Player of the Year',
scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. The 6-9 duo combined for
9-of-15 field goals as Creighton outscored Western in the paint 32-18.
Lander tied the game at 11-all midway through the first
half, hitting a 3-pointer from the right wing. Kaleb Korver drained a field
goal and 3-pointer in transition to put the Bluejays ahead for good. That 3-pointer
started a 17-6 run to close out the first half.
Creighton shot 42.9 percent in the first half from the
field, but was only 1-of-9 from long distance, compared to Western's 31.8
percent field goal shooting.
Turnovers hurt the Leathernecks during the first 20 minutes.
After committing just 11 over the previous two games combined, Western had 10
of its 16 turnovers in the first half.
Price scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half,
matching his season-high output he had at Missouri. The junior forward also grabbed
a game-high nine rebounds.
"Kaimarr is a good player. He can score in the post, he
rebounds," said Molinari. "I thought we played with some defensive awareness
but we put them on the free throw line. We had too many turnovers (16) and not
enough assists (9)."
Lander hit three 3-pointers and had two rebounds in 38
minutes. He extended his streak of scoring in double-figures every game this
season. Tommie Tyler played all 40
minutes, finishing with five points, five rebounds and three assists. Emeka Okafor, Jr. also helped Price defend
in the paint, grabbing seven rebounds in 14 minutes.
Overall Western shot 37 percent from the field while
Creighton ended at 44 percent. The Leathernecks won the rebounding battle with
34 rebounds, two better than CU.
The Leathernecks return to action December 30th, traveling
to Summit League foe IUPUI. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. central.
