Creighton beats Butler 75-61, splits season series
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ty-Shon Alexander scored 19 points to lead four Bluejays in double figures and Creighton won consecutive Big East games for the first time this season with a 75-61 win over Butler on Friday night.
Martin Krampelj scored 16 points with eight rebounds and two blocks, Davion Mintz added 14 points and six assists and Mitch Ballock had 13 points with three 3-pointers for the Bluejays (12-8, 3-4), who were coming off a win at Georgetown. The victory also gave Creighton a season split with the Bulldogs (12-9, 3-5), who won the Jan. 5 meeting 84-69.
Creighton led the entire second half and were up 12 with just under 12 minutes left. Four free throws from Jordan Tucker got Butler within five with 3:23 to go, but Mintz drove the lane, was fouled putting in a left-handed layup and completed the 3-point play. That began an 11-2 game-ending run, including six points from Alexander.
The Bluejays, the second-ranked team nationally in 3-point percentage at 43.1, made just 7 of 23 from distance for 30.4 percent but still shot 50 percent overall and outrebounded Butler 40-29, which helped them survive 18 turnovers.
Creighton shot 56 percent in the first half and used a late 9-0 run to go up 10 and went into halftime leading 40-34 behind 10 points from Ballock.
Kamar Baldwin scored 23 points, the only Butler player in double figures.
