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Ryan Kalkbrenner scores 49 points as No. 15 Creighton wins opener 99-86 over UT-Rio Grande Valley

AP
Nov 07, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Big East preseason player of the year Ryan Kalkbrenner scored a career-high 49 points and 15th-ranked Creighton needed just about every one of them in a season-opening 99-86 win over UT-Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday night.

Creighton, a Sweet 16 team three of the last four seasons, couldn't shake off the Vaqueros of the Southland Conference until the final two minutes.

The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner's point total was the second-highest in program history behind Bob Portman's 51 against UW-Milwaukee in 1967. The fifth-year center was an astonishing 20 of 22 from the field, including 2 for 2 on 3-pointers, and he made 7 of 8 free throws. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Steven Ashworth scored 25 points for the Bluejays and set a school record by making 17 of 17 free throws.

Hasan Abdul-Hakim had 24 points and Cliff Davis and DK Thorn added 17 apiece for the Vaqueros (0-2), who were within 87-82 when Howie Fleming Jr. made a fifth-chance basket with 2:37 left.

UT Rio Grande Valley: The Vaqueros kept it close by going 14 of 35 on 3-pointers and outworking Creighton on the boards in the second half. They finished with 19 second-chance points. They dropped to 0-14 against Top 25 opponents and have lost 56 straight against power-conference opponents, according to Sportradar.

Creighton: The Bluejays were 30-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and got more than they bargained for against the Vaqueros. Coach Greg McDermott was forced to play his starters until the final minute.

Kalkbrenner scored 10 straight points in a variety of ways in the first half. He made a free throw, hit a 3 from the wing, dunked a lob from Jamiya Neal, beat the player guarding him downcourt for a fast-break layup and showed some post moves for an easy bucket.

Creighton won its 30th straight home opener, a streak that started in 1995.

Creighton hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday in the second of four home games over 11 days. UT-Rio Grande Valley returns home to play Champion Christian College on Sunday.

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1st Half
UTRGV
Vaqueros
38
CREI
Bluejays
46

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Bluejays gains possession)
19:42	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup	0-2
19:25		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot
19:23		Tommy Gankhuyag offensive rebound
19:22		Steven Ashworth personal foul
19:19	+3	DK Thorn makes three point jump shot (Hasan Abdul-Hakim assists)	3-2
18:54		Jamiya Neal turnover (bad pass) (Tommy Gankhuyag steals)
18:40	+3	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes three point jump shot (Tommy Gankhuyag assists)	6-2
18:28	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup	6-4
18:11		Trey Miller misses two point jump shot
18:09		Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
17:45		Jasen Green turnover (bad pass) (Hasan Abdul-Hakim steals)
17:36		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
17:34		Jasen Green defensive rebound
17:34		Tommy Gankhuyag personal foul (Jasen Green draws the foul)
17:20	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup	6-6
17:06	+3	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes three point jump shot (Trey Miller assists)	9-6
16:55		Jamiya Neal misses three point jump shot
16:53		Mason Miller offensive rebound
16:48		Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
16:46		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
16:32		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot
16:30		Mason Miller defensive rebound
16:18	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup	9-8
16:11	+3	DK Thorn makes three point jump shot	12-8
16:02		Tommy Gankhuyag shooting foul
16:02		TV timeout
16:02	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	12-9
16:02	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-10
15:51		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot
15:49		Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
15:41		Marshal Destremau personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
15:36		Steven Ashworth misses two point jump shot
15:34		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
15:32		Jamiya Neal personal foul (Hasan Abdul-Hakim draws the foul)
15:24	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point jump shot	14-10
15:02	+3	Isaac Traudt makes three point jump shot (Mason Miller assists)	14-13
14:29		Marshal Destremau misses two point jump shot
14:27		Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
14:17		Trey Miller shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
14:17	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-14
14:17	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-15
14:05		DK Thorn misses two point layup
14:03		Trey Miller offensive rebound
14:00	+2	Trey Miller makes two point layup	16-15
13:55		Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
13:53		Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
13:42	+2	Shane Thomas makes two point dunk (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists)	16-17
13:27		DK Thorn misses two point jump shot
13:25		Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
13:18	+3	Isaac Traudt makes three point jump shot (Ryan Kalkbrenner assists)	16-20
12:59		Isaac Traudt shooting foul (Trey Miller draws the foul)
12:58		Trey Miller misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:58	+1	Trey Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-20
12:36		Isaac Traudt misses three point jump shot
12:34		Trey Miller defensive rebound
12:29		Howard Fleming Jr. turnover (traveling)
12:07	+3	Steven Ashworth makes three point jump shot (Fredrick King assists)	17-23
11:55	+3	Marshal Destremau makes three point jump shot (Howard Fleming Jr. assists)	20-23
11:46		TV timeout
11:19		Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
11:17		Cliff Davis defensive rebound
10:49	+3	Marshal Destremau makes three point jump shot (Hasan Abdul-Hakim assists)	23-23
10:42		Shane Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Marshal Destremau steals)
10:36		Jaylen Washington turnover (lost ball) (Jasen Green steals)
10:22		Howard Fleming Jr. personal foul
10:07		Jackson McAndrew misses three point jump shot
10:05		Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
10:03		Kwo Agwa shooting foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
10:03	+1	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-24
10:03		Ryan Kalkbrenner misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:03		Cliff Davis defensive rebound
9:37		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot
9:35		Jasen Green defensive rebound
9:19		Jasen Green turnover (traveling)
9:02		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot
9:00		Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
8:48	+3	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes three point jump shot	23-27
8:24		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
8:22		Ty Davis defensive rebound
8:06		Ryan Kalkbrenner misses two point jump shot
8:04		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
7:58		Hasan Abdul-Hakim turnover (double dribble)
7:58		TV timeout
7:47	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jamiya Neal assists)	23-29
7:24		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot
7:22		Ty Davis defensive rebound
7:01		Ryan Kalkbrenner misses two point hook shot
6:59		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
6:49	+2	Trey Miller makes two point jump shot	25-29
6:40	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Ty Davis assists)	25-31
6:17	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	27-31
5:45		Mason Miller misses three point jump shot
5:43		Jackson McAndrew offensive rebound
5:35	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point hook shot (Ty Davis assists)	27-33
5:34		Vaqueros 30 second timeout
5:21		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot
5:19		Jamiya Neal defensive rebound
5:12		Jackson McAndrew misses three point jump shot
5:10		Vaqueros defensive rebound
4:48		Tommy Gankhuyag misses three point jump shot
4:46		Jackson McAndrew defensive rebound
4:38	+2	Ty Davis makes two point layup	27-35
4:27	+3	Tommy Gankhuyag makes three point jump shot (Trey Miller assists)	30-35
4:19	+2	Steven Ashworth makes two point layup	30-37
4:19		Howard Fleming Jr. shooting foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
4:19	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 1	30-38
4:03	+2	Trey Miller makes two point jump shot (Hasan Abdul-Hakim assists)	32-38
3:44		Trey Miller personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
3:44		TV timeout
3:44	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-39
3:44	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-40
3:26		Hasan Abdul-Hakim turnover (traveling)
2:56		Jamiya Neal misses two point jump shot
2:54		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
2:40		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses three point jump shot
2:38		Ty Davis defensive rebound
2:29	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Steven Ashworth assists)	32-42
2:13		Tommy Gankhuyag misses three point jump shot
2:11		Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
2:11		RJ Nance personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
2:11	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-43
2:11	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-44
1:52	+3	Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot	35-44
1:42	+2	Isaac Traudt makes two point dunk (Steven Ashworth assists)	35-46
1:24		Trey Miller misses two point layup
1:22		Mason Miller defensive rebound
1:12		Isaac Traudt misses three point jump shot
1:10		Howard Fleming Jr. defensive rebound
1:04		DK Thorn misses three point jump shot
1:02		Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
0:37		Ryan Kalkbrenner turnover (traveling)
0:14	+2	Cliff Davis makes two point layup	37-46
0:14		Ty Davis shooting foul (Cliff Davis draws the foul)
0:14	+1	Cliff Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 1	38-46
0:02		Mason Miller misses three point jump shot
0:00		DK Thorn defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
UTRGV
Vaqueros
48
CREI
Bluejays
53

Time		Play	Score
19:50		Tommy Gankhuyag misses three point jump shot
19:48		Trey Miller offensive rebound
19:48		Steven Ashworth personal foul (Trey Miller draws the foul)
19:42	+3	Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot (Hasan Abdul-Hakim assists)	41-46
19:21	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point dunk (Jasen Green assists)	41-48
19:09		Cliff Davis misses two point layup
19:07		Mason Miller defensive rebound
18:43	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point hook shot	41-50
18:29	+2	DK Thorn makes two point jump shot	43-50
18:18		Tommy Gankhuyag blocks Steven Ashworth's two point layup
18:16		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
18:12	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	45-50
18:11		Jasen Green shooting foul (Hasan Abdul-Hakim draws the foul)
18:11		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:11		Mason Miller defensive rebound
17:58		Hasan Abdul-Hakim shooting foul (Jasen Green draws the foul)
17:58	+1	Jasen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-51
17:58		Jasen Green misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:58		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
17:39		Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks Cliff Davis's two point layup
17:37		Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
17:34	+2	Jamiya Neal makes two point layup (Steven Ashworth assists)	45-53
17:34		Tommy Gankhuyag shooting foul (Jamiya Neal draws the foul)
17:34		Jamiya Neal misses regular free throw 1 of 1
17:34		Marshal Destremau defensive rebound
17:25		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point layup
17:23		Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
17:18		Jamiya Neal turnover (bad pass) (Trey Miller steals)
17:12		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
17:10		Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
17:04		Steven Ashworth turnover (bad pass) (DK Thorn steals)
16:53	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	47-53
16:42	+3	Steven Ashworth makes three point jump shot	47-56
16:18	+3	Marshal Destremau makes three point jump shot (Cliff Davis assists)	50-56
16:03	+2	Jamiya Neal makes two point layup	50-58
15:45		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot
15:43		Hasan Abdul-Hakim offensive rebound
15:33		Steven Ashworth personal foul
15:33		TV timeout
15:19		Howard Fleming Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:17		Marshal Destremau offensive rebound
15:08		Howard Fleming Jr. turnover (bad pass)
15:06		Isaac Traudt misses three point jump shot
15:04		Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
15:01	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup	50-60
14:46		Ty Davis shooting foul (Trey Miller draws the foul)
14:46	+1	Trey Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-60
14:46	+1	Trey Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-60
14:20	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point hook shot (Jamiya Neal assists)	52-62
14:01		Howard Fleming Jr. turnover (bad pass)
13:45	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point dunk (Jamiya Neal assists)	52-64
13:41		Vaqueros 30 second timeout
13:41		TV timeout
13:28	+2	Cliff Davis makes two point layup (Tommy Gankhuyag assists)	54-64
13:08	+3	Isaac Traudt makes three point jump shot (Jamiya Neal assists)	54-67
12:52	+3	Tommy Gankhuyag makes three point jump shot (Cliff Davis assists)	57-67
12:19		Ty Davis misses three point jump shot
12:17		Cliff Davis defensive rebound
12:03		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
12:01		Mason Miller defensive rebound
11:49		Tommy Gankhuyag shooting foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
11:49		TV timeout
11:49	+1	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-68
11:49	+1	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-69
11:36		Trey Miller misses two point layup
11:34		Trey Miller offensive rebound
11:29		DK Thorn misses two point jump shot
11:27		Ty Davis defensive rebound
11:22		Ty Davis turnover (lost ball)
11:08		Hasan Abdul-Hakim turnover (bad pass)
10:55		Hasan Abdul-Hakim shooting foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
10:55		Official timeout
10:55	+1	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-70
10:55	+1	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-71
10:46		Marshal Destremau misses three point jump shot
10:44		Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
10:34		Jamiya Neal misses three point jump shot
10:32		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
10:24	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	59-71
10:16		Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
10:14		Howard Fleming Jr. defensive rebound
10:02		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point jump shot
10:00		Howard Fleming Jr. offensive rebound
9:47		Marshal Destremau misses two point layup
9:45		Jackson McAndrew defensive rebound
9:36	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point alley-oop dunk (Steven Ashworth assists)	59-73
9:17		Ty Davis shooting foul (Hasan Abdul-Hakim draws the foul)
9:17		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:17	+1	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-73
9:04		Jamiya Neal turnover (lost ball) (Cliff Davis steals)
8:57		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
8:55		Cliff Davis offensive rebound
8:45	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	62-73
8:36		Steven Ashworth turnover (bad pass) (Hasan Abdul-Hakim steals)
8:31	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	64-73
8:31		Jackson McAndrew shooting foul (Hasan Abdul-Hakim draws the foul)
8:31	+1	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes regular free throw 1 of 1	65-73
8:20		Fredrick King turnover (lost ball) (DK Thorn steals)
8:16	+2	DK Thorn makes two point layup	67-73
8:14		Bluejays 30 second timeout
8:14		TV timeout
7:58	+2	Jamiya Neal makes two point layup	67-75
7:41	+3	DK Thorn makes three point jump shot (Howard Fleming Jr. assists)	70-75
7:17		Mason Miller misses three point jump shot
7:15		Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
7:02		Marshal Destremau personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
7:01	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point jump shot (Jamiya Neal assists)	70-77
6:50	+2	DK Thorn makes two point jump shot (Trey Miller assists)	72-77
6:24	+3	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes three point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists)	72-80
6:03		Trey Miller misses two point layup
6:01		Ryan Kalkbrenner defensive rebound
5:55	+2	Jasen Green makes two point layup (Jamiya Neal assists)	72-82
5:55		Howard Fleming Jr. shooting foul (Jasen Green draws the foul)
5:55	+1	Jasen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 1	72-83
5:39		Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks DK Thorn's two point layup
5:37		Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
5:33		Mason Miller turnover (bad pass) (Cliff Davis steals)
5:28		DK Thorn misses three point jump shot
5:26		Trey Miller offensive rebound
5:18	+3	Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot	75-83
5:16		Vaqueros 30 second timeout
4:52		Jamiya Neal misses two point jump shot
4:50		Hasan Abdul-Hakim defensive rebound
4:39	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	77-83
4:26		Steven Ashworth misses three point jump shot
4:24		Ryan Kalkbrenner offensive rebound
4:22	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup	77-85
3:52	+3	Cliff Davis makes three point jump shot	80-85
3:28		Jamiya Neal turnover (lost ball) (DK Thorn steals)
3:26		DK Thorn turnover (out of bounds)
3:26		TV timeout
3:26		Tommy Gankhuyag personal foul (Ryan Kalkbrenner draws the foul)
3:26	+1	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-86
3:26	+1	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-87
3:18		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
3:16		Howard Fleming Jr. offensive rebound
3:11		DK Thorn misses three point jump shot
3:09		Hasan Abdul-Hakim offensive rebound
3:05		DK Thorn misses two point jump shot
3:03		Trey Miller offensive rebound
2:55		Howard Fleming Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:53		Howard Fleming Jr. offensive rebound
2:50	+2	Hasan Abdul-Hakim makes two point layup	82-87
2:20	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point layup (Steven Ashworth assists)	82-89
2:05		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
2:03		Ty Davis defensive rebound
1:34	+2	Ryan Kalkbrenner makes two point jump shot (Steven Ashworth assists)	82-91
1:26		Vaqueros 60 second timeout
1:19		Mason Miller personal foul (Hasan Abdul-Hakim draws the foul)
1:19		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:19		Steven Ashworth defensive rebound
1:15		DK Thorn personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
1:15	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	82-92
1:15	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	82-93
0:57		Trey Miller turnover (out of bounds)
0:57		Official timeout
0:56		Jasen Green turnover (bad pass) (Hasan Abdul-Hakim steals)
0:49		Cliff Davis misses two point layup
0:49		DK Thorn offensive rebound
0:49	+2	DK Thorn makes two point layup	84-93
0:49		Cliff Davis personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
0:49	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	84-94
0:49	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-95
0:44		Ryan Kalkbrenner blocks Hasan Abdul-Hakim's two point layup
0:42		Mason Miller defensive rebound
0:40		Cliff Davis personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
0:40	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	84-96
0:40	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-97
0:32		Cliff Davis misses three point jump shot
0:30		Jasen Green defensive rebound
0:13		Jasen Green turnover (lost ball) (Hasan Abdul-Hakim steals)
0:09		Hasan Abdul-Hakim misses two point layup
0:07		Howard Fleming Jr. offensive rebound
0:07	+2	Howard Fleming Jr. makes two point layup	86-97
0:07		Hasan Abdul-Hakim personal foul (Steven Ashworth draws the foul)
0:07	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 1 of 2	86-98
0:07	+1	Steven Ashworth makes regular free throw 2 of 2	86-99
0:03		Trey Miller turnover (lost ball) (Josh Townley-Thomas steals)
0:00		End of period

Trey Miller turnover (lost ball) (Josh Townley-Thomas steals)