Creighton Bluejays vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Match Player Stats On Dec 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 2, 2017

Killian Tillie scored 22 points and Zach Norvell and Silas Melson had 21 points each to lead 15th-ranked Gonzaga over No. 25 Creighton 91-74 on Friday night in the Jesuit Basketball Classic at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash.

Gonzaga (7-1) shook off early shooting woes to open the second half on a 20-4 run -- including a Norvell layup with 16:32 to play that gave the Bulldogs their first lead and they never gave it back.

Norvell, who was making his first career start, also made four 3-pointers in the second half and collected six rebounds.

Tillie added eight rebounds, and Gonzaga dominated the glass, 36-27. The Bulldogs shot 62 percent in the second half and made 19 of 24 free throws.

In a role reversal, Creighton (5-2) shot 58 percent in the first half but went the first 5:30 before making its first field goal after the break.

Creighton led by as many nine early and took a 44-37 lead into halftime. Senior guard Marcus Foster paced the Bluejays with 15 of his 21 points in the first half and accounted for three of the team's seven 3-pointers before halftime.

Melson kept Gonzaga in the game early, making his first five shots, and scored 16 of his career-high 21 points in the first half. Melson eclipsed his previous season high (13) on a 3-pointer with 2:31 remaining in the half to cut the deficit to 39-37.

NOTES: Gonzaga played its fifth game in nine days. Creighton had not played since Saturday. But the Bluejays met their fourth-ranked opponent -- all away from home -- in five games. ... Gonzaga freshman F Corey Kispert (sprained left ankle) did not play. He left late in the first half of Wednesday's 103-68 win over Incarnate Word but was expected to be available. ... Creighton senior F Toby Hegner (sprained left ankle) returned after missing three consecutive games. After starting the first three games of the season, he came off the bench and finished with 10 points.