First Half Run Helps Creighton Men’s Basketball Team To Win In Australia

BRISBANE, Australia –-(Creighton Athletics Aug. 12)– A 22-0 run midway through the first half helped the Creighton men’s basketball team wrap up a three-game tour of Australia with a 107-79 victory over Bullets Invitational at Auchenflower Stadium on Monday, August 12.

Creighton finished the trip with a 2-1 record, steadily improving during the trip while getting contributions from everyone on the active roster. Creighton had five men average in double-figures for the trip, paced by rising junior guard Mitch Ballock (18.3 ppg.) and rising sophomore forward Christian Bishop (15.7 ppg.).

Bishop led the Bluejays with 25 points, making 11-of-17 field goal attempts and also contributing three steals in 28 minutes of action. Ballock tallied 21 points, including 6-of-10 marksmanship from 3-point range. Also contributing at a double-figure clip were Ty-Shon Alexander (13) and Davion Mintz (11). Mintz also added seven assists.

Creighton faced a 28-22 deficit with one second left in the first quarter before a Jett Canfield lob pass to Bishop ended the quarter with momentum for the visitors. CU would pour in the first 20 points in less than five minutes to open the second quarter. Ballock had a trio of treys during the burst, which gave CU the lead for good.

Creighton took a 54-42 lead into the half, then opened the third period with a 10-2 run that featured buckets from Mintz, Alexander and Ballock. The Bullets would draw within seven following a 7-0 run that trimmed CU’s lead to 72-65 with a minute left in the third quarter, but a dunk from Bishop and a lay-up by Shereef Mitchell gave CU a 76-65 lead after three periods.

A 31-14 fourth quarter rampage saw CU finish the trip in style, as 10 different men scored at least one point in the final 10 minutes. Bishop had nine points and five rebounds in the final quarter, and freshmen Jalen Windham (7), Nic Zeil (2) and Jett Canfield (2) combined for 11 points.

Creighton shot 47.1 percent for the game, including 48.3 percent from three-point range, and also sank 73.3 percent at the line.  CU had 18 steals, including five from Antwann Jones, who also stuffed the stat sheet with eight rebounds, six points and four assists.

The Bluejays owned a 22-2 advantage in fast break points and a 41-9 lead in points off turnovers.  CU also dished 26 assists and had just six turnovers en route to 107 points.

Jason Cadee topped Bullets Invitational with 16 points, and Chris Whitehead added 12 points and six rebounds. Former Oregon standout EJ Singler had nine points and six rebounds in 28 minutes. The Bullets blocked 11 shots, including five rejections from Will Magnay. Bullets Invitational shot 39.7 percent for the game, 26.9 percent from deep and made 81.5 percent of 27 free throw attempts.