OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — Creighton used a dominant first half to cruise past Marquette 84-63 in a Big East men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out CenturyLink Center. The Bluejays, led by Nik Graves’ 17 points and six assists, built a commanding 46-32 halftime lead and never relented before a crowd of 16,507. Nigel James scored 23 points for the Golden Eagles, who lost their third straight. Creighton improved to 7-5 overall, while Marquette fell to 5-8. Isaac Traudt added 14 points for the Bluejays, who shot efficiently from the field and connected on 10 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles struggled to find consistent offense outside of James.

OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half offensive display by Creighton proved too much for Marquette to overcome as the Bluejays cruised to an 84-63 victory in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at a sold-out CenturyLink Center. A crowd of 16,507 watched the home team seize control early, building a 14-point halftime lead that never fell below double digits after the break. The win improved Creighton to 7-5 overall, while Marquette dropped to 5-8. The most important segment of the game unfolded over the final ten minutes of the first half. With Marquette trailing 21-16, Creighton guard Nik Graves ignited a decisive 25-16 run to close the period. The sophomore from Durham, North Carolina, scored 11 of his 17 points during this stretch, including three 3-pointers. His back-to-back triples, the second a pull-up jumper after a steal, pushed the lead to 30-16 and forced a Marquette timeout. Creighton’s ball movement and interior passing overwhelmed the Golden Eagles’ defense during the run. The Bluejays scored on nine of their final twelve possessions of the half, with Graves contributing three assists to go with his scoring burst. The run was punctuated by a Fedor Zugic driving layup in the final minute, sending Creighton into the locker room with a commanding 46-32 advantage. Marquette, led by a game-high 23 points from guard Nigel James, never mounted a serious threat in the second half. Any attempt at a rally was quickly stifled by the Bluejays’ balanced attack. After a Chase Ross 3-pointer brought Marquette within 68-57 with just over 12 minutes to play, Creighton responded with a 7-0 spurt, capped by an Isaac Traudt 3-pointer, to push the lead back to 18 and effectively seal the outcome. Graves finished with 17 points and six assists in just 21 minutes, orchestrating the offense with efficiency. Traudt, a hometown product from Grand Island, Nebraska, added 14 points, while Josh Dix scored 10. The Bluejays shared the wealth, with Jasen Green scoring eight points and Blake Harper adding nine off the bench. For Marquette, James was the lone consistent offensive threat, adding three assists and a block to his scoring total. Sean Jones provided a spark off the bench with nine points, but the Golden Eagles struggled to find secondary scoring and were hampered by 15 turnovers, which Creighton converted into 19 points. Creighton’s defense was equally impactful, holding Marquette to 38% shooting from the field and contesting shots consistently, finishing with five blocks. The Bluejays also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Golden Eagles 42-34. The victory gives Creighton momentum as it prepares to host Utah Tech on Monday. Marquette, mired in a three-game losing streak, will look to regroup before its next Big East contest against Seton Hall on Dec. 30. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Creighton entered the game with an 80.7% probability to win. The Bluejays covered the pregame spread of 7.5 points. The total score of 147 fell under the over/under line of 149.

OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — Two Big East teams looking to steady their seasons will meet Saturday when the Marquette Golden Eagles visit the Creighton Bluejays at CHI Health Center. Marquette (5-7) enters on a three-game skid, including a 78-69 home loss to Georgetown on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 84.3 points during the losing streak. Their fortunes often hinge on guard Nigel James, who is coming off a 13-point, 5-assist performance against the Hoyas and has scored 20 or more points three times this season. Creighton (6-5) is riding high after a dominant 98-57 road victory at Xavier on Wednesday. The Bluejays’ offense erupted, led by a breakout 27-point effort from guard Austin Swartz. The sophomore has provided a recent spark, averaging 18.3 points over Creighton’s last three contests. The matchup presents a contrast in momentum. Marquette seeks to rediscover its early-season form from narrow losses to Oklahoma and Valparaiso, while Creighton aims to build consistency after a blowout win followed a 50-point output in a loss at Nebraska on Dec. 7. Historically, games between these programs have been tightly contested. The teams will meet again in Milwaukee on Jan. 27. For Marquette, containing Swartz and improving perimeter defense will be critical. Creighton must handle Marquette’s pressure and replicate its unselfish play from the Xavier win, where it recorded 24 assists. Saturday’s game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. EST tipoff. It will be the final contest for both teams before a holiday break.