No. 15 Creighton basketball defeats No. 1 UConn

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Francisco Farabello saw the clock, dribbled out the waning seconds and waited. He knew what was about to happen. Seconds later, he and the rest of Creighton were engulfed by a swarm of blue.

People hugged. People plunged out of the stands and onto the court. People celebrated in any way they knew how.

It was the scene of Tuesday night at the CHI Health Center.

It was the scene of history.

It was the scene in the aftermath of the No. 15 Jays’ 85-66 upset of the No. 1 Huskies, the program’s first-ever win over the country’s top-ranked team.

CU, which trailed 7-0 less than two minutes in, responded in a way it didn’t — couldn’t — after UConn fired on all cylinders in the first meeting. But Tuesday, the Jays caught fire, more so than they had in any one stretch since hanging 109 points on Central Michigan in early December.

Ryan Kalkbrenner buoyed the offense through UConn’s 11th-ranked defense and another slow start. Then CU, which started 2 of 9 from the field, made nine straight and 14 of 19 to be up 43-29 at halftime.

Steven Ashworth was the catalyst behind it all, each shot he made serving as a match to a sold-out crowd that combusted after every one of them.

The senior guard dropped a game-high 20 points (6-14 FG, 5-13 3s), five rebounds and three rebounds. He scored 13 straight for the Jays in that fiery stretch, navigating around screens and taking advantage of every open look he created.

Ashworth couldn’t miss.

There was a moonshot triple from 30 feet. A one-legged floater over a defender to get out of a sticky situation on the baseline. Another one from outside right after. He threw his arms up after each jaw-dropping bucket, like a marathon runner who’s ahead enough they have time to celebrate at the finish line.

UConn (24-3, 14-2 Big East) has its chances, and the Huskies got as close as 10 with five minutes to play. But that first half, coupled with Ashworth’s personal run in it, gave CU the cushion it needed.

The Jays’ 85 points are the most UConn has allowed all season. CU finished 29 of 53 (54.7%) from the field, including 14 of 28 from beyond the arc. Perhaps most importantly, they had seven turnovers, half of what they had in the first meeting.

Another Big East brawl awaits the Jays on Sunday, when they head to New York for the rematch with St. John’s. But that can wait. Tuesday is a night that will be forever remembered in Omaha.

If only for a moment, Creighton was at the pinnacle of the basketball world.

Creighton’s Jasen Green (0), Creighton head coach Greg McDermott and Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) speak following the UConn vs. Creighton men’s college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Creighton won the game 85-66.

UConn head coach Dan Hurley speaks following the UConn vs. Creighton men’s college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Creighton won the game 85-66.