Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth combined for 50 points, leading the host Bluejays to an 87-74 win over Butler Saturday night at CHI Health Center in Omaha.
 
With the win, Creighton improves to 22-9 on the season and 15-5 in BIG EAST play. Butler is now 13-18 (6-14) entering next week's BIG EAST Tournament in New York City.
 
KEY STRETCH: Creighton closed the first half on an 11-2 run that turned a 42-41 Butler lead with 3:07 remaining into a 52-44 Creighton halftime lead. The first five points of the second half gave the Bluejays a 13-point advantage.
 
OF NOTE:

• The game started out as a shootout as Butler lead, 29-22, over the first 8:13 of the game; the teams combined to start 13-for-19 from three-point range during that opening stretch.
• Creighton's lead got to as many as 15 in the second half, but the Bulldogs were able to claw back to 76-70 with 4:31 remaining before back-to-back three-pointers by Creighton returned the lead to double figures.
• Kalkbrenner had 27 points on 13-for-17 shooting; he added 15 rebounds.
• Ashworth scored 23 points with seven made three-pointers (all in the first half). He added 11 assists.
• Patrick McCaffery and Jahmyl Telfort led the Bulldogs with 19 points apiece. Telfort handed out six assists, one shy of his career-high.
• Butler went 9-for-22 from three-point range, but that included 7-for-10 shooting over the opening 20 minutes.
• Creighton shot 52 percent from the field, and went 16-for-37 from three-point range.
• The teams combined to commit only 14 fouls.
• The Bluejays held a 43-26 rebounding advantage, aided by 13 offensive caroms.
• Butler committed a season-low one turnover.

 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs head to New York City for the BIG EAST Tournament. Butler and Providence will meet in the first game of the tournament Wednesday afternoon. The 4 p.m. tip will stream on Peacock. Mark Minner and Nick Gardner will also call the action live for fans to listen in on Butler Basketball Live through the Varsity Network and other platforms.