DePaul University
Creighton
Blue Demons Lose in BIG EAST Tournament Opener
3/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
NEW YORK - DePaul dropped a 78-63 decision to Creighton in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament on Wednesday night. Jamee Crockett led DePaul with 15 points in his final game in a Blue Demon uniform.
Creighton, the tournament No. 10 seed, led early before a jumper by Rashaun Stimage gave DePaul a 12-11 advantage with 13:37 left in the first half. The Bluejays answered with three straight three-pointers around a bucket from Billy Garrett Jr. with Avery Dingman's three giving Creighton a six-point lead at the 12-minute mark.
Seventh-seeded DePaul (12-20) managed to tie the score three times in the final seven minutes of the first half with a three-pointer by R.J. Curington knotting the score at 33-33 with 48 seconds until intermission. Creighton then converted on the final possession of the half and led by two at halftime.
A pair of Crockett jumpers early in the second half gave the Blue Demons a one-point advantage on two occasions in the first three minutes of the second half. DePaul couldn't build on either lead before Creighton outscored DePaul, 18-7, over an eight-minute stretch to take a 10-point lead.
Creighton (14-18) led by as many as 16 points in the final minutes before finishing with the 15-point decision.
Tommy Hamilton IV added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench for DePaul while Myke Henry and Garrett each scored 10 points.
Creighton was led by 22 points from James Milliken and 12 from Devin Brooks.
