Creighton uses career-high from Watson to upset No. 5 Xavier

OMAHA, Neb. - Maurice Watson scored a career-high 32 points and Creighton rode a fast start to a 70-56 upset of No. 5 Xavier on Tuesday night.

The Bluejays (16-9, 7-5 Big East) used an early 16-0 run to take a 17-point lead 9 minutes into the game and then held off the Musketeers after they pulled within five with 6 minutes left.

Watson was dazzling all game with his drives to the basket against much bigger defenders. He scored 22 points in the second half and finished off the Musketeers with a bank-in high off the glass, a layup and then a steal and layup to make it 66-53 with 1:54 to play.

Xavier (21-3, 9-3) got 17 points from Jalen Reynolds and 14 from James Farr, but emerging star Trevon Bluiett was held to two points. The Musketeers' five-game winning streak ended as they shot a season-worst 30 percent from the field, including 1-of-21 from 3-point range.

Creighton led 47-29 when Watson, a full foot shorter than the 6-foot-10 Farr, took him to the hole for a left-handed layup.

Xavier at that point went from man-to-man defense to a 1-3-1 zone, and the Bluejays missed seven straight shots and committed a turnover as the Musketeers trimmed the lead to 10.

Watson drove the lane for an easy basket to make it 50-38, but Reynolds' inside bucket, J.P. Macura's putback and a couple of free throws by Reynolds cut Creighton's lead to six.

It was 55-50 with 6 minutes left after a couple more free throws by Reynolds. But Creighton was ahead by 10 points again when Watson swished a jumper from the top of the key and Cole Huff hit a 3 from the corner.

About the only mistakes Watson made came in the second half when he passed too high on an alley-oop pass to Zach Hanson and the ball sailed out of bounds and when he shot a woeful airball. He left to a standing ovation with 32 seconds left. He had seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.

The Bluejays were without guard Khyri Thomas, who had an undisclosed injury. James Milliken started in his place and gave his team an immediate spark, scoring seven of Creighton's first 16 points.

Xavier missed 10 of its first 12 shots, and Milliken's 3-pointer started the 16-0 run that put the Bluejays up 21-4. After Xavier's Bluiett was called for traveling, Farr clapped as he set up on defense and yelled "Stay positive, stay positive" to his teammates.

Macura's 3-pointer ended the drought, but the Musketeers got no closer than seven points the rest of the half and trailed 37-27 at the break.