Kalkbrenner Tallies 49 Points, Leads Creighton to Season-Opening Win

Image courtesy of Creighton University

It turns out Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Big East’s three-time defensive player of the year, can be a record-setter on offense.

Creighton’s 7-foot-1 center scored 49 points on a school-record 20 field goals as the Bluejays opened their season with a 99-86 win over UT-Rio Grande Valley last night.

Kalkbrenner’s 49 points were second-most in program history, trailing only Bob Portman’s 51 against UW-Milwaukee in 1967. His team-record 20 field goals came in 22 attempts, as Kalkbrenner became the first player in NCAA history to hit 20 shots on 90 percent shooting since Bill Walton did so in the 1973 National Championship. The Big East preseason player of the year also had 11 rebounds for his 17th career double-double, and had three blocks.

CU is back in action at CHI Health Center Sunday to play FDU at 4 p.m.