Creighton ends Princeton’s March Madness run, faces San Diego State for Final Four spot

Creighton used its measurement, 3-point capturing and a swarming second-half protection to finish the March Madness run of Princeton, beating the Fifteenth-seeded Tigers 86-75 on Friday night time within the Sweet 16.

The sixth-seeded Bluejays (24-12) superior to their first regional closing since they have been a part of an eight-team NCAA Tournament in 1941. Creighton will play No. 5 seed San Diego State in Sunday’s South Region closing, with every workforce searching for its first Final Four.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, the two-time Big East defensive participant of the yr, scored 22 factors to steer the Bluejays to their sixth win in seven video games. Baylor Scheierman made 5 3s and completed with 21 factors.

“Kalk, he impacts us on the rim on each ends of the ground and defensively gives a lot for us,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott mentioned. “I assumed he actually bought going late within the first half and carried it over to the second half. Baylor simply performs at each degree. He could make the mid-range. He shoots the three. He sees the ground extremely nicely, and consider it or not, he’s grow to be a fairly good defender.”

The Tigers (23-9) have been led by Ryan Langborg with 26 factors and Ivy League participant of the yr Tosan Evbuomwan with 24 factors, six rebounds and 9 assists.

Princeton shook up brackets in every single place by beating No. 2 seed Arizona within the first spherical, then blew out seventh-seeded Missouri final weekend in Sacramento, California.

Playing in its first Sweet 16 since 1967, Princeton hoped to grow to be the primary Ivy League champion to make the Elite Eight since Penn’s Final Four run in 1979, the primary Tigers squad to succeed in the Final Four since Bill Bradley led them there in 1965, and the second straight No. 15 seed to play in a regional closing. Saint Peter’s final yr turned the primary 15 seed to attain that feat.

Princeton’s offense bore no resemblance to the back-cutting, deliberate type that outlined the late Pete Carril’s teaching tenure. Instead, the Tigers went toe to toe in opposition to Creighton’s fast-paced offense till they stalled out at the beginning of the second half.

Creighton used a 9-2 run to take 56-45 lead, a four-minute stretch throughout which Princeton coach Mitch Henderson referred to as two timeouts and Evbuomwan drew his third foul.

The Bluejays simply wouldn’t cease. When Princeton reduce the deficit to 61-52, Creighton answered with seven extra factors and the Tigers couldn’t get nearer than seven factors after that.

“Princeton’s actually good at establishing their tempo, so that you’ve simply bought to take them out of it,” Kalkbrenner mentioned. “Their entire purpose is to take us out of our tempo.”

After beating North Carolina State and third-seeded Baylor in Denver final weekend, drawing confidence from not needing oxygen masks like their opponents, Creighton eradicated the all of the sudden common Ivy Leaguers. Now, the Bluejays are one win away from the nationwide semifinals.

“It’s been wonderful, it’s been a dream come true. This is why I got here to Creighton within the first place, to make a run with this group of men,” Scheierman mentioned. “It’s simply been an unimaginable expertise. I’m trying ahead to persevering with that on Sunday.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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