BASKETBALL

Friars come up short at the end

Creighton's Zegarowski hits a 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left for 78-74 win

Tim Perera Special to the Journal
Creighton's Marcus Zegarowski is congratulated by teammates Denzel Mahoney, left, and Damien Jefferson after hitting a game-winning 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left against PC Saturday in Omaha. [USA TODAY Sports / Steven Branscombe]

OMAHA, Neb. — The Providence Friars have seen their share of nail-biters this season and have thrived in them, winning their last five games decided by five points or less.

But they got a taste of being on the wrong side of one on Saturday as they let a five-point lead slip away in the last 1:41 and dropped a 78-74 decision to Creighton.

The Bluejays' Marcus Zegarowski broke a 74-74 tie when he nailed a 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left in the game.

Ty-Shon Alexander then intercepted an inbounds pass, got fouled and made a free throw to finish off the Friars.

The loss spoiled a spectacular night for sophomore David Duke. He poured in a career-high 36 points on 12-of-18 shooting, 6 of 8 from 3-point range. Duke's previous best was 22 points in November against Charleston.

But the Friars weren't able to get much from anybody else. Luwane Pipkins scored nine points on 3-of-12 shooting, and Alpha Diallo made just 3-of-13 attempts for eight points.

Providence coach Ed Cooley said the last 1:41 wasn't typical of how his team closes games.

“If you told me we were going to come here and have a 5-point lead with a minute whatever 30 to play, a minute 50 to play, you're taking that all day. We just didn't get the right bounce at the right time.

“I've got to do a good job with my players getting their heads up because a loss like this is disturbing when the game was right in your hands."

Providence (11-8 overall, 4-2 Big East) had the ball with 2.7 seconds left after a timeout with a chance to get a shot off and even the game, but Creighton's Alexander stole the inbound pass. It was one of only nine turnovers committed by the Friars but was the most costly. Cooley said that last turnover is going to stick with him.

“That's tough," he said. "That turnover's tough. That one I'm going to take a really long look at. ... Whether you want to call it a turnover, a jump ball, I don't know what you want to call it. But I don't know about that one.”

No Friar other than Duke scored in the last 6:19 of the game. Duke tallied Providence's last 15 points of the game.

Freshman forward Greg Gantt said he wasn't surprised by Duke's performance.

“The guy is special," Gantt said. "It's good to see him do what he did today because he puts in the work. He can really do that every night.”

Creighton coach Greg McDermott said his team had no answers for Duke.

“Duke was a problem. He was hard, hard to guard,” McDermott said.

“That kid deserves it,” Cooley said of Duke. “David is the hardest working player I've ever coached. He's in the gym morning, noon and night, and I'm really happy for him that it's paying off.”

The Friars held a 25-10 advantage in second-chance points in the game despite getting out-rebounded, 39-32. PC, however, did have a 19-15 edge in offensive boards.

The Friars jumped out to an 11-5 lead early behind 3-pointers by Duke and Pipkins.

Another Duke trey extended the PC advantage to 19-11 with 13:01 remaining in the first half.

But Creighton (14-5, 3-3) responded with a 7-0 surge to pull to within one at 19-18. A Zegarowski 3-pointer put the Bluejays in front, 23-21, with 8:19 remaining in the first half. Providence trailed, 41-37, at halftime.

The Friars shot 35.3 percent (12 of 34) from the floor in the half and were paced by Duke's 12 points.

Mitch Ballock had 12 points for the Bluejays, who made 12 of 27 (44.4%) from the field.

Creighton scored six of the first eight points in the second half to extend its lead to 47-39.

But the Friars responded with a 9-2 run to pull to within a point at 49-48 on a Pipkins 3-pointer. Providence grabbed its first lead of the second half when Diallo hit a jumper to put the Friars up, 52-51, with 11:17 remaining in the game.

The largest lead after that was the five-point Providence advantage with 1:41 left that eventually vanished.