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Bluejays Beat Akron in First Round of NCAA Men’s Hoops Tourney

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Bluejays Beat Akron in First Round of NCAA Men’s Hoops Tourney
Image courtesy of Creighton University

Creighton closed the first half on an 8-0 run and pulled away in the second half to defeat Akron 77-60 in the opening round of the Midwest Regional this afternoon in Pittsburgh. 

CU led 39-34 at the break and pulled away for good with a 10-0 spurt that pushed its lead to 59-42.  Ryan Kalkbrenner led the Bluejays with 23 points and had eight rebounds.  Baylor Scheierman recorded a double-double for the Jays with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Trey Alexander tallied 19 points. 

Earlier in the day, Kalkbrenner was named for the second straight season as one of four finalists for the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year award. 

Creighton will take a 24-9 record into the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday against either Oregon or South Carolina.