Jacob Epperson came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points, while point guard Marcus Foster netted 12 for the Bluejays (19-7). Tyler Clement came off the bench to hit all four of his shots and add 11, and guard Khyri Thomas hit for 10 points.
Sharif Black tallied a game-high 13 points and Christian Pekarek tallied 11 for Bemidji State, which played the game as an exhibition. Division II schools aren't required to count games against Division I foes on their record.
But the Beavers didn't approach this one as a meaningless game, leading for most of the first half. They took a 16-7 advantage when Black converted a layup at the 15:02 mark and upped the margin to 26-16 as Black canned a 3-pointer with 10:42 remaining.
At that point, Creighton said enough is enough. It went on a 17-4 run, taking the lead for the first time on a free throw by Kaleb Joseph with 4:49 left in the half. The Bluejays gradually expanded the margin from there, lugging a 45-34 advantage into the locker room.
Creighton kept pouring it on after halftime, scoring the first six points and making it a 17-point game. Epperson dunked with 14:55 left to up the lead to 58-37, and Clement drained a 3-pointer at the 12:31 mark for a 67-37 advantage.
Bemidji State scored only 12 points after halftime, hitting just 4 of 33 shots from the field. For the game, the Beavers made a mere 27 percent from the field.
The Bluejays sank 52.1 percent from the floor and were 13-of-36 on 3-pointers. Creighton owned a 46-33 advantage on the glass and drew 22 assists on its 38 field goals.
Ten Bluejays played double-digit minutes, none playing more than 21.
--Field Level Media
Bemidji State | Creighton | |
Sharif Black 13 | Scoring | Jacob Epperson 15 |
Christian Pekarek 3 | Assists | Mitch Ballock 5 |
Derek Thompson 7 | Rebounds | Marcus Foster 8 |
Sharif Black 3 | Free Throws Made | Kaleb Joseph 3 |
Sharif Black 1 | Steals | Kaleb Joseph 3 |
Jai'Vionne Green 2 | Blocks | Jacob Epperson 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Bemidji State | 46 | 27.0 | 6-25 | 6-8 | 8 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
Creighton | 94 | 52.1 | 13-36 | 5-8 | 23 | 46 | 9 | 11 | 6 |