Creighton escapes with 2OT victory over DePaul

NEW YORK -- Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 32 points, including the go-ahead hook shot with 2:12 remaining in the second overtime as Creighton survived a major scare from DePaul to earn a wild 85-81 victory on Thursday in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.

Creighton rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final 2:12 of regulation and blew an eight-point lead in the final 93 seconds of the first overtime.

Fedor Zugic added 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in Creighton's comeback late in regulation. Steven Ashworth was held to 10 on 3-of-16 shooting but hit the tying trey with 21 seconds left in regulation for the second-seeded Bluejays (23-9).

Layden Blocker scored 25 for DePaul (14-19), including the Blue Demons' final nine points of the first overtime. Isaiah Rivera added 17 and CJ Gunn chipped in 14 points and six steals for the 10th-seeded Blue Demons, who were attempting to reach the semifinals for the first time since joining the Big East.

DePaul held a 76-75 lead when Rivera hit a step-back 3-pointer over Zugic with 3:37 remaining in the second extra session. After the Blue Demons' David Thomas missed a 3-point attempt with 2:26 left, Kalkbrenner put Creighton ahead for good with a hook shot over NJ Benson.

Kalkbrenner hit a layup around a double team with 91 seconds left, and teammate Jamiya Neal dunked 20 seconds later for a 81-76 edge. The Blue Demons were within 83-81 after a trey by Blocker with 12 seconds to go, and Creighton finally secured matters when Ty Davis sank two free throws with nine seconds remaining.

The Bluejays beat DePaul for the 23rd straight time and advanced to a Friday semifinals against third-seeded UConn or sixth-seeded Villanova.

DePaul held a 62-51 lead after a layup by Thomas with 2:12 left in the second half. Zugic started Creighton's run with two 3-pointers in 20 seconds. Kalkbrenner had a layup with 1:11 left, and Ashworth forged a 62-62 tie with a deep 3-pointer from the right side with 21 seconds left following a Bluejays timeout.

In overtime, Zugic dunked on the first possession and Creighton extended its lead to 72-64 on a basket Davis with 1:33 to go. Blocker forced double overtime by getting by Davis for a short jumper with one second left.

Before Creighton stormed back, the Blue Demons held a 36-21 lead at halftime and a 17-point edge in the opening minutes of the second half.

--Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media