Box Score Omaha, Neb. –
Octavius Brown and
Twann Oakley each finished with 16 points but Creighton was too much for the Braves tonight at CenturyLink Center in Omaha. The Blue Jays scored over 50 points in each half to defeat the Braves 107-61 in front of a sellout crowd.
The Braves took it to Creighton in the first eight minutes of the game behind the "Melrose" boys Oakley and
Devonte Hampton.
Stephan Raquil got the Braves on the board first with an off-balance shot off the glass to give the Braves a 2-0 lead. Two baskets later,
Octavius Brown hit a bassline jumper to retake the league 4-2.
Creighton's top score from the previous year, Doug McDermott, scored the Blue Jays' first six points to give his team the lead 6-4 lead at the 17:22 mark.
Both teams traded baskets for a while until the Blue Jays went on 10-0 run to push their lead to 16-7. That lead didn't hold for long.
Hampton scored eight of the Braves next 12 points and knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Blue Jays lead to 20-19. A few minutes later Oakley made a free throw to give the Braves their first lead 23-22 since the 17:37 mark.
The Blue Jays took control of the game from there closing out the first half with a 30-10 run to take a 52-36 lead into the locker room. Oakley hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer at the break.
After the half, the Blue Jays exploded in the second half going on a 21-4 run to increase their lead to 77-40.
The only thing that was going well for the Braves was when Octavius heated up in the second half.
Hampton recorded 11 points off the bench and led the Braves in rebounds tonight with seven total.
The Blue Jays had five players in double-figures led by McDermott who scored a game-high 20 points. Devin Brooks and Ethann Wragge each had 15 points apiece.
The Braves are back in action on Sunday as they welcome Tougaloo College. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. immediately following the girls the game.
