For the second straight game, the Bluejays used a big second half run at Paradise Jam, this time unloading a 16-7 run in the final eight minutes to take home the title with an undefeated record.
Tied at 70, freshman center Justin Patton and guard Khyri Thomas anchored Creighton's late run to slowly pull away from the rebels. A booming triple from Thomas with 1:55 to go gave the Bluejays to room they needed to hold on for the win, 82-76.
Down by 11 before settling for a 40-46 deficit at the break, Creighton outscored Ole Miss 46-31 in the second half to finish Paradise Jam with a clean 3-0 record and pushed its overall record to 5-0 for the season, tying Xavier and defending NCAA national champion Villanova on top of the Big East standings.
Junior guard Marcus Foster led the Bluejays with 25 points and six rebounds while Thomas scored 16. Toby Hegner added 12 off the bench and Patton chipped in 11, six in the last eight minutes. Kobe Paras was DNP.
Foster was named tournament MVP.
Rasheed Brooks and Deandre Burnett led Ole Miss (4-1) with 22 points apiece.
The Bluejays will be back at home in Nebraska when they face the Loyola Greyhounds on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
source: news.abs-cbn.com
