Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 23 points and Jamiya Neal sizzled from the perimeter on his way to 20 points as Creighton held off Villanova for an 86-79 victory Saturday at Omaha, Neb.
Steven Ashworth added 20 points and 11 assists and Jackson McAndrew had 13 points for Creighton (8-5, 1-1 Big East), which shook off a loss at Georgetown early in the week to improve to 7-1 in home games.
Eric Dixon, the nation’s leading scorer, pumped in 27 points for Villanova (8-5, 1-1), but the Wildcats’ five-game winning streak ended. Dixon was 10-for-17 from the floor with four 3-point baskets.
Woogla Poplar’s 19 points and 10 rebounds and Jhamir Brickus’ 16 points also helped Villanova, which couldn’t pull off the road victory despite being charged with one turnover.
Creighton doubled Villanova’s number of 3-point baskets (14 to seven). The Bluejays were charged with only eight fouls, so Villanova was limited to 7-for-9 on free throws.
Creighton was up 67-53 with 10 minutes to play before the Wildcats made a move. The gap dipped to nine points, but Neal’s 3-pointer restored the 14-point margin at 78-64.
Villanova responded by scoring the next six points, aided by Creighton going more than three minutes without scoring. Neal hit another 3 to thwart the comeback.
During its winning streak, Villanova never allowed more than 72 points, but Creighton reached the 40-point mark in both halves.
Kalkbrenner, the Big East Preseason Player of the Year, finished 10-for-15 from the field, while Neal sank five of six attempts from 3-point range. Ashworth and McAndrew both made three 3-pointers.
The Bluejays, who trailed at halftime in four of their five losses, clung to a 40-38 lead at the break. Neal kept Villanova within range by scoring the team’s first 11 points of the second half.
Creighton’s reserves accounted for only two points.
Villanova fell to 6-6 in road games vs. Creighton.
