Creighton Tops Ducks, 84-76, In Game One of CBI
Championship Series

box score

OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton rode a hot-shooting start and held on to defeat Oregon, 84-76, in game one of the College Basketball Invitational's best-of-3 championship series, played before an event record crowd of 12,381.

The series now shifts to Eugene, Ore., where game two will be played at Matthew Knight Arena on Wednesday (9 pm Central). Game three, if necessary, would also be in Eugene on Friday at 9 pm Central. The entire championship series is televised on HDNet.

Both teams came out red-hot from the field, with Creighton making its first six shots (including five three-pointers) to lead 21-13 at the first media timeout. The Jays were led by nine early points from Jahenns Manigat, while Antoine Young dished four assists early on.

Creighton led 44-37 at the half. shooting 59.3 percent from the field (16-27), while Oregon shot an even 50 percent (14-28). Creighton was led by 11 points from Doug McDermott, while fellow frosh Manigat had nine at intermission and Echenique eight points and and a game-high five boards. Oregon was paced by eight points from Jay-R Strowbridge.

The Jays opened up their largest lead of the night at 58-41 at the 16:09 mark after finishing off a 12-0 run that had the fans on their feet applauding Manigat's hustle and McDermott's nifty inside moves. But just as quickly, Oregon closed the gap. The Ducks took advantage with Young out of the game and got within six points at 63-57. But Young returned, and so did CU's lead. Kenny Lawson Jr. threw down a dunk over two defenders, then assisted for a Gregory Echenique jump hook in the lane, as Creighton's lead reached 70-59 under eight minutes.

Creighton struggled at the line down the stretch, and Oregon capitalized, drawing within 76-72 with 2:31 left on a Joevan Catron jumper as part of a 7-0 run. Creighton ended that drought with a free throw by Echenique and two more by Young, only to have Strowbridge sink a corner triple with 1:30 left to bring UO within four again, 79-75. The Jays came out of a timeout and Josh Jones drained a three-pointer to give Creighton a seven-point lead.