Fansided

NCAA Tournament 2017, Creighton vs Rhode Island: Highlights, score and recap

By Nathaniel Reeves

Mar 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Rhode Island Rams guard Jared Terrell (32) reacts after the final buzzer against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the second half of the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship game at the PPG Paints Arena. Rhode Island won 70-63. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Rhode Island Rams guard Jared Terrell (32) reacts after the final buzzer against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the second half of the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship game at the PPG Paints Arena. Rhode Island won 70-63. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Highlights from Friday’s Midwest Region First Round matchup between the No. 6 Creighton Bluejays and No. 11 Rhode Island Rams from Sacramento.

The Rhode Island Rams locked down the Creighton Bluejays in an impressive wire-to-wire 84-72 victory on Friday afternoon in the Midwest Region 6/11 matchup.

Playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 1999, the Rams raced out to a 15-8 lead in the first 10 minutes. Creighton’s explosive offense made just four of its first 19 shots and struggled from long range against Rhode Island’s perimeter defense, which graded out as one of the best in the nation in the regular season.

The Bluejays weren’t going to stay cold from the field forever, and got within one point five minutes later on back-to-back 3s by Cole Huff and Khyri Thomas. Rhode Island then hit six of its final seven shots ahead of the break to take a 33-26 lead into halftime.

Kuran Iverson carried the Rams in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, and the defense frustrated Bluejays star center Justin Patton early on. Creighton only remained in striking distance thanks to Thomas, who racked up eight points and hit a pair of 3s in the first.

Two minutes into the second half, Rhode Island earned its biggest lead of the game at 39-28 on a pair of buckets by Hassan Martin. Creighton switched to a more up-tempo attack to get some easy buckets over the next few possessions, but  couldn’t knock down anything from the outside or stop Rhode Island in the paint, and only got as close as six before the 10 minute mark.

Thomas wasn’t going to let Creighton go away that easily, and cut the lead to five with 8:52 to go on a jumper followed by a steal to set up a transition layup. Ronnie Harrell Jr. added all 15 of his points in the second half to keep the Bluejays in striking distance for much of the second.

With the clock ticking under 5:30, Iverson hit the Rams’ first 3-point shot of the half to start a 6-0 spurt that gave Rhode Islandits largest lead at 66-53. Patton fouled out shortly after, and Rhode Island guard Jeff Dowtin sealed the 84-72 win with a perfect showing at the free throw line down the stretch.

Rhode Island never trailed and generated enough offense by making 28 of 31 free throws to supplement a terrific defensive effort on the perimeter, as Creighton was held to 7-of-24 shooting from deep. Unfortunately, the Bluejays will be left wondering what could have been if point guard Mo Watson had stayed healthy this season.

Three Stars

3. Ronnie Harrell, G, Creighton. Scored 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting to keep Creighton in striking distance in the second half with Patton and Marcus Foster struggling.

2. Jeff Dowtin, G, Rhode Island. Promising freshman had the best game of his career with a team-high 23 points on 10-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe.

1. Kuran Iverson, F, Rhode Island. Put up 19 points as Rhode Island’s only perimeter shooting threat and hit a number of key shots to keep Creighton at bay.

Final
Colorado State Rams
84
Creighton Bluejays
72

Highlights

Up Next

Rhode Island will look for a similar defensive effort on Sunday against Dillon Brooks and Oregon in the Midwest Second Round.