One More Game: Nik Graves Fuels Creighton’s Victory as McDermott’s Tenure Continues
One More Game: Nik Graves Fuels Creighton’s Victory as McDermott’s Tenure Continues
The Creighton Bluejays extended their season and the legendary coaching career of Greg McDermott with a commanding 82-69 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown. In what was a high-stakes encounter at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, senior forward Nik Graves delivered the performance of his life, scoring a season-high 28 points to propel the Bluejays into the semifinals. The win ensures that McDermott, who announced his intention to retire at the end of the season, will have at least one more opportunity to lead his squad on the sidelines.
Rutgers started the game with significant intensity, jumping out to a 10-point lead early in the first half. However, Creighton’s veteran leadership took over as the game progressed. After a slow start, the Bluejays ignited a massive second-half surge, outscoring the Scarlet Knights 47-34 in the final 20 minutes. Graves was the catalyst, scoring 25 of his 28 points in the second half, virtually willing the Bluejays to victory with a combination of aggressive drives and clutch shooting.
Nik Graves and the Senior Surge
Nik Graves was simply unstoppable after the intermission. He finished the night 7-of-13 from the field and an incredible 12-of-13 from the free-throw line, surpassing his previous season high of 18 points. Beyond his scoring, Graves orchestrated the offense with eight assists and secured five rebounds. His ability to draw fouls and capitalize at the line prevented Rutgers from building any sustainable momentum in the closing stages of the game.
Graves wasn’t the only Bluejay to step up in the spotlight. Jasen Green provided a double-double threat with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Josh Dix connected on four critical three-pointers to finish with 14 points. Creighton’s collective shooting was blistering in the second half, as they hit 61.5% of their shots to pull away from a Rutgers team that struggled to find its rhythm late.
McDermott’s Legacy and the Transition to Huss
For Greg McDermott, every game in this tournament carries emotional weight. As the program's all-time winningest coach, he has built Creighton into a national powerhouse, and his players are clearly determined to send him out with a championship. "We wanted to keep this thing going for Coach," Graves said after the game. "He’s given so much to this program, and we aren't ready for it to be over yet."
While the focus remains on the current run, the future of the program is already in motion. Alan Huss, who was recently introduced as the successor to McDermott, was in attendance to watch the Bluejays' victory. The transition represents a new chapter for Creighton, but for now, the Bluejays are focused on Saturday’s semifinal clash against West Virginia, where they will look to secure a spot in the tournament final.
Rutgers Ends a Difficult Campaign
The loss marks the end of the season for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, who finish with a 14-20 record. It was a tough night for Rutgers’ star Tariq Francis, who led the team with 19 points but struggled mightily from the floor, shooting just 3-of-15. Jamichael Davis added 17 points and Lino Mark chipped in 12, but the Scarlet Knights' poor outside shooting (2-of-14 from deep) proved to be their downfall.
Despite the disappointing finish, head coach Steve Pikiell noted the growth of his younger players throughout the season. The Scarlet Knights will look to rebuild around their core of talented guards as they prepare for next year. For now, however, the spotlight remains on Las Vegas and the Bluejays’ pursuit of a storybook ending for Greg McDermott.
