OMAHA, Neb. ? Indiana State was looking to earn a series sweep over Creighton on Saturday night, after winning the first game between the two squads on January 2. However, the Sycamores (9-8, 4-3 MVC) could not overtake the Bluejays (14-3, 5-2 MVC) on their home court and suffered an 86-69 loss in front of 17,371 fans at the Qwest Center.
Creighton jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and later widened the advantage to 11-4 on a jumper by Cavel Witter. Gabe Moore then answered with a jumper to make the score 11-6, but Booker Woodfox connected from three-point range to give the Jays an eight-point lead at 14-6. ISU then cut the lead to five points at 16-11 on a Marico Stinson three-pointer with 14:54 left in the half.
The Bluejays then went on a 10-2 run to make the score 26-13 after Woodfox drained three-straight free throws after being fouled while attempting a three-pointer. That lead would eventually grow to 17 points at 32-15 with 6:27 left in the half after a Josh Dotzler layup. ISU clawed back and cut the lead to 11 points at 38-27 after another three-pointer by Stinson with 3:19 left in the half. However, that would be as close as the Sycamores would get and the Jays finished the half strong and took a 46-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
After the half, the Jays widened their lead to 54-35 points at the 15:36 mark after another Woodfox three pointer. The Sycamores then fought back and cut that lead to 62-49 points at the 11:16 mark of the second half after Aaron Carter connected on a jumper.
The ISU comeback was thwarted by the Jays, who went on to extend their lead to 22 points at 79-57 on a jumper by P'Allen Stinnett with 5:33 left in the game. The Sycamores then went on a 10-2 run, highlighted by seven-straight points from Cole Holmstrom and capped off by a Carter three pointer, to cut the lead to 81-67 with 2:14 left in the game. That late push was not enough, though, and the Jays earned an 86-69 victory to even the season series with the Sycamores.
Stinson scored a game-high 23 points, including six treys, and added six rebounds and three steals to the lead the way for ISU. Holmstrom also finished in double figures for the Sycamores, as he scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Witter and Woodfox set new career highs with 21 and 20 points, respectively, to lead the way for the Jays in the win, while Nick Bahe chipped in with 10 points.
The Sycamores return to action on Wednesday at home against in-state rival Evansville. Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Hulman Center.
