Midland Lutheran @ Creighton preview

Creighton has built its reputation on offensive efficiency in 10 seasons under Greg McDermott, but this year's Bluejays are getting it done a bit more on the defensive end. In the midst of one of the best defensive stretches of the McDermott era, Creighton attempts to closeout its nonconference schedule with a seventh straight victory Saturday when it hosts NAIA foe Midland (Neb.).

The Bluejays entered the season ranking inside the top 35 in field-goal percentage in each of the previous four seasons. While Creighton's scoring average (77.9 points) is exactly the same as it was during last year's somewhat disappointing 20-15 campaign, this year's squad is limiting opponents to an average of 69.1 points - the lowest mark by the program since 2014-15. The Bluejays held a third straight opponent below 40 percent shooting for the first time since Dec. 17-31, 2013, giving up only one bucket over the final three minutes of the game in last Saturday's 67-60 win at Arizona State. While this weekend's contest will count as a regular game for Creighton, the Warriors will enter this exhibition contest after surrendering at least 92 points each time out during their four-game skid.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MIDLAND (3-8): Sophomore Bowen Sandquist (11.6 points) led the Warriors in scoring for the first time this season with 18 points in last Saturday's loss to Northwestern College, including a pair of baskets early in the second half that brought Midland within six points after trailing by as many as 21. Leading scorer Laurence Merritt (17.9) tallied 15 points in the defeat but had managed at least 25 in three of his previous four contests and is shooting 50.9 percent beyond the arc. Freshman guard Kylan Smallwood (10.9 points, 6.5 rebounds) is the only regular converting half of his field-goal attempts and the only other Warrior besides Sandquist to start at least 10 games.

ABOUT CREIGHTON (10-2): Leading scorers Marcus Zegarowski (18.4 points, 4.7 assists) and Ty-Shon Alexander (16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds) combined for 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting last Saturday, but the Sun Devils' defensive effort was still thwarted by sharpshooter Mitch Ballock and relative newcomer Denzel Mahoney. Ballock (13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds), who knocked down four of his seven 3-point attempts and tied Mahoney for the team lead with 14 points, is the first Bluejay since 2013-14 with multiple 3-pointers in 11 straight games. Mahoney - a transfer from Southeast Missouri State - needed only 18 minutes against Arizona State to match his scoring output from his team debut four days earlier in an 83-73 victory over Oklahoma.

TIP-INS

1. The Bluejays' 63-6 win over the Warriors in their last meeting (1925) still stands as the largest margin of victory for any game in school history.

2. With a win on Saturday, Creighton will go undefeated in December for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.

3. The Bluejays are 14-3 all-time when Zegarowski, Alexander and Ballock all score in double figures, including 7-1 this season.

PREDICTION: Creighton 104, Midland 62