Nov 16, 2024; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) controls the ball against UMKC Kangaroos center Melvyn Ebonkoli (20) in the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images Ryan Kalkbrenner recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds to help No. 14 Creighton roll to a 79-56 victory over Kansas City in nonconference play in Omaha, Neb.
Jackson McAndrew scored a game-high 15 points while Isaac Traudt added 13 for the Bluejays (4-0), who never trailed. Jamiya Neal contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Steven Ashworth also scored 11 points for Creighton.
Jamar Brown had 12 points and 16 rebounds and Jayson Petty also scored 12 points for the Roos (2-2). Cameron Faas added 10 points and three steals.
The Bluejays’ four victories are by an average of 24.3 points.
Creighton made 47.6 percent of its shots, including 11 of 34 from 3-point range, and held a 52-34 rebounding advantage. Kalkbrenner made 6 of 8 field-goal attempts as his sizzling season percentage dropped to 89.1 percent (41 of 46).
The Roos connected on just 29.3 percent of their attempts (22 of 75) and were 8 of 33 from behind the arc. It marked the seventh straight meeting in which Kansas City fell to the Bluejays.
Creighton led by 17 at halftime before putting the game away early in the second half.
Petty scored 21 seconds into the half for Kansas City before the Bluejays rattled off 14 straight points. Ashworth drained a 3-pointer to cap it and give the Bluejays a 62-33 lead with 13:50 remaining.
McAndrew later made two free throws to make it 71-39 with 9:20 left.
Kansas City scored the next 13 points to ensure the final margin wouldn’t approach 40. Anderson Kopp finished the burst with a 3-pointer with 5:26 left to play.
Neal had 11 points and eight rebounds in the first half and Kalkbrenner added 10 points as Creighton led 48-31 at the break. Brown and Faas scored eight apiece in the half for Kansas City.
Neal drained a 3-pointer to cap a 10-0 run that gave the Bluejays a 21-10 lead with 12:24 left in the half.
Six-plus minutes later, Pop Isaacs made two free throws to make it 33-17 with 6:08 remaining.
Traudt made two treys and Kalkbrenner scored in the interior during an 8-0 spurt that saw Creighton stretch its lead to 43-23 with 3:36 left.
Neal’s hoop stretched the lead to 23 with 1:53 remaining before Petty and Brown both hit 3-pointers to trim Kansas City’s deficit to 17.
–Field Level Media
