Men's College Basketball
Preview
Creighton at Providence
When: 8:30 PM ET, Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Where: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island

After a thrilling seventh straight win last time out, Creighton bids to continue its recent Big East success when it travels to Providence to complete the teams' regular-season series on Wednesday evening.

The Bluejays (16-6, 9-2) were 62-60 winners Saturday at Villanova, overcoming 18 turnovers and shooting just 6 of 26 from long distance as Steven Ashworth banked in a corner 3-pointer with 5.8 seconds left and Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 22 points with eight rebounds.

"Sometimes you need good fortune," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. "Sometimes you have to be lucky."

Luck may have been on the Jays' side, but Kalkbrenner extended his run of three consecutive 20-point performances and led a finish that saw seniors score Creighton's final 19 points. Villanova's nation-leading scorer Eric Dixon (24.2 ppg) was held to 17 points.

It was a similar story in Creighton's 84-64 home win over Providence on Jan. 14. Kalkbrenner and Ashworth each scored 20 points, and the former made it a double-double with 10 rebounds.

"They've played their whole careers for this," McDermott said after the two teams last faced off. "Their teammates know what they're going to get out of them every single day."

Ashworth has made one trey in each of the last 40 games, the second-longest streak in Creighton history.

The Friars (11-11, 5-6) were on the down side of a late-game result on Saturday, erasing a 19-point, second-half deficit before falling 68-66 at St. John's. It was their third loss in five games.

While Jayden Pierre and Bensley Joseph -- who both average double-figure scoring -- were held to 11 and three points, respectively, Jabri Abdur-Rahim scored 27 on the Red Storm, going 8 of 11 from 3-point range. He is the first Providence player to sink eight triples since 2005.

"He's locked in," English said. "He's playing the right way -- rebounding, guarding the ball. When you do that, the ball goes through the net, especially when you're a great player."

However, turnovers were Providence's downfall unlike Creighton over the weekend. The Friars turned the ball over 20 times for the third time this season.

English knows his team is better than what that statistic shows.

"Didn't deserve to win, but I thought our guys fought hard and showed some great resolve," English said. "If we take care of the ball, we like our chances."

Creighton has won 15 of the teams' 27 Big East meetings, but Providence has won the last two in Rhode Island in overtime.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Neutral Day Night Conf
Creighton 16-6 W7 11-1 4-3 1-2 9-2 7-4 9-2
Providence 11-11 L1 9-2 2-5 0-4 1-4 10-7 5-6
Last Meeting
Creighton Providence
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
1/14/25 PROV 64 CREI 84 84 33 51.6 64 36 38.2
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Creighton S. Ashworth 20 42.1 0
Providence W. Cardet Jr. 10 50.0 1
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Creighton R. Kalkbrenner 10 2 8
Providence O. Erhunmwunse 8 4 4
Assists Player  
Creighton S. Ashworth 6
Providence R. Mela 3
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Creighton R. Kalkbrenner 388 67.6 75
Providence J. Pierre 281 42.4 39
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Creighton R. Kalkbrenner 176 49 127
Providence O. Erhunmwunse 122 52 70
Assists Player  
Creighton S. Ashworth 143
Providence B. Joseph 66
Quickchart Matchup
blue bar Creighton Off vs  red bar Providence Defense
blue bar 75.4 Points For
red bar 69.3 Points Against
blue bar 47.9 FG%
red bar 41.5 FG%
blue bar 34.7 Reb
red bar 29.2 Reb
red bar Providence Off vs  blue bar Creighton Defense
red bar 71.6 Points For
blue bar 68.3 Points Against
red bar 44.0 FG%
blue bar 40.5 FG%
red bar 34.7 Reb
blue bar 30.6 Reb