McDermott, the preseason pick for Big East Player of the Year in a conference coaches poll, shot 15-for-25 from the floor in 31 minutes of duty as Creighton (2-0) cruised after a sluggish start. Austin Chatman scored 12 and Isaiah Zierden added 10 points for the Bluejays.
Trinity Hall scored 15 points to pace Kansas City (0-2), which was outrebounded 51-35. Martez Harrison added 12 points, Frank Williams had 11 and Nelson Kirksey scored 10.
The Kangaroos opened the game by shooting 7-for-20 from the floor to lead 23-21 on Caleb Johnson's 3-pointer 12:25 into the first half. Creighton regrouped to go on a 15-2 run over the next six minutes to take control at 38-25 as Kansas City finished the half shooting only 4-for-15 to trail 48-31 at the intermission.
The Bluejays and McDermott, who was 5-for-10 in 3-pointers, continued to pound inside in the second half, outscoring the Kangaroos in the paint 44-32 overall and 15-6 in second-chance points. Creighton coach Greg McDermott went to his bench early in the second half and the Kangaroos never got closer than 19 points the rest of the way.
GAME NOTEBOOK: McDermott posted his 16th career 30-point game. ... The Bluejays won their 29th straight home game against teams that are winless. ... Creighton's bench outscored Kansas City 34-20.
UMKC | Creighton | |
Trinity Hall 15 | Scoring | Doug McDermott 37 |
Nelson Kirksey 4 | Assists | Austin Chatman 9 |
Isaac Kreuer 8 | Rebounds | Devin Brooks 9 |
Trinity Hall 5 | Free Throws Made | Austin Chatman 2 |
John Burke 2 | Steals | Austin Chatman 1 |
Caleb Johnson 2 | Blocks | Will Artino 2 |