NC State vs. Creighton – Men’s College Basketball Game Recap – March 17, 2023 | ESPN

DENVER — — The Creighton Bluejays could not hit something from outdoors. No worries — OK, perhaps somewhat — they merely went inside to their huge man.

Ryan Kalkbrenner scored a career-high 31 factors and sixth-seeded Creighton overcame a tough 3-point taking pictures day to fend off No. 11 seed North Carolina State 72-63 on Friday within the first spherical of the NCAA Event.

The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner did somewhat little bit of all the things for the Bluejays, which included hitting an enormous 3-pointer on a day the staff completed 3 of 20 from lengthy vary.

The slender Kalkbrenner had six dunks and 7 rebounds, and N.C. State huge males D.J. Burns Jr. and Ebenezer Dowuona had been hampered by foul hassle.

“Nothing surprises me from Kalk,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott stated. “He’s simply improved in each side of the sport, and he was in a position to rating on Burns. However then once they needed to go small, we did a great job of executing some offense to get him the ball across the rim, after which he did the remaining.”

Subsequent up for the Bluejays (22-12) is third-seeded Baylor within the second spherical within the South Area. The Bears beat Santa Barbara within the early sport.

Main 62-59, Baylor Scheierman drained a 3-pointer with 2:23 remaining to offer Creighton some separation. A pair of free throws for Kalkbrenner, a block by Trey Alexander and one other basket from Scheierman — full with blowing the gang a kiss — and the Bluejays had been on their solution to a hard-earned win.

About that kiss: “It was simply an in-the-moment factor,” Scheierman defined. “It wasn’t essentially to anyone.”

Kalkbrenner was having an enormous sport within the NCAA Event final season — 16 factors, 10 rebounds — when he suffered a knee harm within the extra time win over San Diego State. He did not get to play the following spherical in opposition to eventual nationwide champion Kansas.

“Glad to have the ability to play in it this time,” Kalkbrenner stated.

Terquavion Smith led the Wolfpack (23-11) with 32 factors on 27 pictures. The staff began gradual, going 0 for 8 from the sphere to open the sport, and by no means discovered its rhythm from deep. The staff completed 3 for 14 from 3-point vary.

“We knew their sport plan. We knew knew what they had been going to do,” stated Wolfpack guard Jarkel Joiner, whose staff led by seven with 16:48 remaining. “We might’ve been extra disruptive as a result of they’re an ideal passing staff. However give credit score to them — they discovered their huge man.”

It was fairly a turnaround for an N.C. State staff that went 11-21 final season.

“We’re going to stroll out of right here with our head up,” N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts stated. “Proceed to construct and maintain pushing this program in the fitting route.”

INJURY REPORT

Creighton ahead Mason Miller, the son of longtime NBA participant Mike Miller, left within the first half after hurting his proper ankle. “The grade of the sprain, I don’t assume we’ll know till he will get up tomorrow,” McDermott stated.

GOING GREEN

McDermott wore inexperienced footwear on the sideline in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. It had been within the works for months — simply in case their sport fell on the celebratory day.

“Clearly, McDermott is a fairly Irish identify,” McDermott cracked. “We went with the inexperienced right now.”

JAM SESSION

Burns launched a single titled “Beast Boy” earlier than the sport. The monitor displays on his drive on the courtroom together with giving a shoutout to his teammates. Burns had two factors and 4 rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays confronted Baylor of their second sport of the 2014 NCAA Event. The Bears received 85-55. ——

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