Creighton plays in front of fans, hands Xavier first loss

OMAHA, Neb. - For the first time in months, college basketball fans in the state got to watch Division I hoops in person. No. 13 Creighton outlasted No. 22 Xavier 66-61 in front of roughly 1,800 fans, the maximum amount of 10% allowed in CHI Health Center.

Creighton improves to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big East, while Xavier's first loss drops the Musketeers to 8-1 overall and 1-1 in the league.

Four Bluejays closed the game in double figures, led by 13 points from Antwann Jones and Denzel Mahoney. Christian Bishop and Marcus Zegarowski delivered 10 points apiece. Creighton won the rebound battle 45-42 and had a 24-18 advantage in the paint.

Xavier got 12 points from Nate Johnson and 11 from Paul Scruggs. Zach Freemantle came in averaging 17.5 points per game but was limited to seven points and fouled out in 23 minutes of action.

One of the key stats in the contest was three-point shooting. After opening the game 4-of-6 (66.7%) from beyond the arc, Xavier finished 8-of-32 (25.0%), including 2-of-16 (12.5%) in the second half. Creighton was marginally better finishing 8-of-28 (28.6%) in the contest.

Creighton has won three straight over Xavier for just the second time. Twenty-two of the 33 all-time meetings between Creighton and Xavier have been within five points in the final minute, including eight of the past 12 games.