Ryan Kalkbrenner scored an impressive 49 points as No. 15 Creighton triumphed over UT-Rio Grande Valley with a final score of 99-86 in their season opener on Wednesday night. This remarkable performance was crucial for the Bluejays, who needed every point from their standout center.
Creighton, which has reached the Sweet 16 in three of the last four seasons, faced a tough challenge from the Vaqueros of the Southland Conference. The game remained tightly contested until the final two minutes, showcasing the resilience of both teams.
Kalkbrenner’s scoring total marked the second-highest in Creighton’s history, only behind Bob Portman’s 51 points against UW-Milwaukee in 1967. The towering 7-foot-1 center displayed exceptional shooting skills, finishing 20 of 22 from the field and hitting 2 of 2 from beyond the arc. He also contributed significantly on defense with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Teammate Steven Ashworth added 25 points to the Bluejays’ total, solidifying their offensive efforts.
On the other side, Hasan Abdul-Hakim led the Vaqueros with 24 points, while Cliff Davis and DK Thorn contributed 17 points each. Despite their best efforts, the Vaqueros found themselves trailing, even narrowing the gap to 87-82 when Howie Fleming Jr. scored on a fifth-chance basket with 2:37 left in the game.
Takeaways
The Vaqueros kept the game competitive by shooting 14 of 35 from three-point range and out-rebounding Creighton in the second half, finishing with 19 second-chance points. However, they fell to 0-14 against ranked opponents and extended their losing streak against power-conference teams to 56 games, according to Sportradar.
Key Moment
Kalkbrenner showcased his scoring prowess by netting 10 consecutive points in the first half through a mix of free throws, a three-pointer, a dunk from a lob pass by Jamiya Neal, a fast-break layup, and a couple of effective post moves.
Key Stat
With this victory, Creighton extended its impressive streak to 30 consecutive home opener wins, a run that began in 1995.
Up Next
Creighton is set to host Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday, continuing a stretch of four home games within 11 days. Meanwhile, UT-Rio Grande Valley will return home to face Champion Christian College on the same day.
