Lincoln, NE – The Creighton Bluejays suffered a disappointing loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday afternoon, falling 87-75 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton’s typically dominant center, was held to just four points and six rebounds in the contest, his lowest output of the season.
Kalkbrenner entered the game averaging 15.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, but Nebraska’s physical defense proved too much for him to handle. The Cornhuskers constantly double-teamed Kalkbrenner in the post, forcing him to take tough shots and limiting his opportunities to impact the game. He finished 2-of-9 from the field, including 0-of-2 from three-point range.
Without their leading scorer and rebounder producing, the Creighton offense struggled to find consistency. The Bluejays shot just 39.3% from the field and 32.1% from three-point range. Arthur Kaluma led the way with 20 points, but he was the only Creighton player to score in double figures.
Normally, Kalkbrenner is a major contributor on the defensive end as well, but he was unable to make much of an impact in this game. Nebraska shot 52.8% from the field and 42.1% from three-point range. The Cornhuskers also dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding Creighton 43-34.
The loss to Nebraska is a major setback for Creighton, who falls to 13-9 on the season and 6-5 in Big East play. The Bluejays have now lost two straight games, and they will need to find a way to bounce back if they want to remain in contention for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The performance of Ryan Kalkbrenner is a major concern for Creighton. If he is unable to regain his form, the Bluejays will have a difficult time competing in the Big East. The team will need to find a way to generate more offense and improve its defense if it wants to compete for a championship.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Arthur Kaluma | 20 | 7 | 3 |
| Trey Alexander | 14 | 2 | 1 |
