Illinois State scored a season-high 82 points at No.10 Creighton, which also was the most points scored on the Bluejays all year, but the nationally-ranked Missouri Valley Conference leader dropped 95 of its own on the Redbirds as ISU fell to No.10 Creighton in Valley action, 95-82, Sunday in Omaha.
Trey Guidry led the Redbirds with 21 points. He shot 8-of-10 from the field and was 5-of-7 from the three-point mark. Baboucarr Bojang added a season-high 18 points for Illinois State while Chris Burras came off the bench for the Birds to score a career-high nine points while pulling down four boards.
No. 10 Creighton was led by Larry House who notched 23 points. Kyle Korver added 17 for the Bluejays while Joe Dabbert had 11 and Mike Grimes had 10.
With 15:41 to go in the first half, Illinois State pulled to within two off a trey by Greene. But Creighton answered with nine-straight points and a 12-point lead, 22-10. The Redbirds fought back again, however, and was down by four after Gregg Alexander hit a trey of his own, but Creighton couldnt be stopped offensively. Consecutive jumpers by Grimes and Michael Lindeman showcased the Bluejays as they took a 53-40 halftime lead.
Creighton led by as many as 23 with 10:38 to go in the second half before Burras hit a couple of free throws to pull ISU to within 18, 75-51 with 10 minutes to play. A 16-point deficit with 3:20 remaining was closer for Illinois State, who ended the game only down by 13, 95-82.
The Redbirds shot 53.6% in the game but committed 20 turnovers. Creighton took advantages of Illinois States mistakes, scoring 31 points off turnovers in the game while ISU only scored 13 off of the Bluejays.
ISU returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 25, against the Purple Aces of Evansville. It is a 7:05 p.m. tipoff in Evansville, Ind.
