Creighton beats Ole Miss as Kobe sits out game

Not only did Creighton jumped 10 spots to be the new No. 12 team in the latest AP college basketball rankings, the Bluejays also bagged the 2016 Paradise Jam championship after beating Ole Miss, 86-77, at the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center.

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

Kobe Paras to play for Creighton after UCLA exit

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino basketball star Kobe Paras will play NCAA Division 1 basketball for Creighton University after pulling out from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Paras announced on Twitter that he will "take my talents to Omaha, Nebraska" to play for the Blue Jays.

I would gladly want to announce that I am taking my talents to Omaha Nebraska.#17000Strong pic.twitter.com/dv7k6LTvLc

— Kobe™ (@Im_Not_Kobe) July 18, 2016

Paras originally committed to UCLA but had academic deficiencies according to the school's admission's department, despite passing the NCAA eligibility requirement.

The son of PBA legend Benjie Paras previously committed himself to UCLA after he was recruited by the university's program in 2014 while playing for the LA Cathedral.

But UCLA, which has produced NBA stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Reggie Miller, Zach LaVine and Kevin Love, announced in June that the young Paras has pulled out from the program.

A three-star recruit according to Rivals and ESPN, Paras played for Cathedral High School and the Compton Magic AAU team.

Creighton last made the NCAA Tournament in 2014. Among their alumni who have made it to the NBA are Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks, Doug McDermott of the Chicago Bulls, and Anthony Tolliver of the Sacramento Kings.

The Blue Jays, who play in the Big East, open their 2016-2017 campaign on November 4 against Wayne State.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com