Unranked Creighton knocks off No. 1 Kansas behind Pop Isaacs' season-high 27 points

[December 05, 2024]  By ERIC OLSON

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Pop Isaacs helped unranked Creighton upset No. 1 Kansas 76-63 on Wednesday night, scoring a season-high 27 points and matching his career high with six 3-pointers.  

Kansas' Zeke Mayo (5) shoots against Creighton's Pop Isaacs (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

Kansas cut a 13-point deficit to one early in the second half, but Isaacs hit back-to-back 3s to rebuild the lead as the Bluejays (6-3) pulled away for their second straight victory over a top-ranked opponent. They knocked off Connecticut 85-66 in Omaha in February.

The Jayhawks (7-1) lost a regular-season game against an unranked nonconference opponent for the first time in three years. Creighton had been in 16 straight Associated Press polls before dropping out this week following losses in three of its previous four games.

Students rushed the court at the final buzzer as flames shot out of the top of the goal standards.

Isaacs’ shooting display overshadowed what was supposed to be the featured matchup between two of the nation’s best big men, the 7-foot-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner and the Jayhawks’ 7-2 Hunter Dickinson.

Kalkbrenner, who had missed the Bluejays' previous game because of a lower-body injury, and Steven Ashworth each scored 17 points.

The Jayhawks struggled offensively and never led. Dajuan Harris had 15 points and AJ Storr and Zeke Mayo added 12 apiece for Kansas.

Takeaways
Kansas: The Jayhawks could never find a rhythm offensively. Dickinson had difficulty getting touches and took only four shots, making two.

Creighton: When the Bluejays make their 3-pointers, they’re tough to beat. They came into the game shooting 32% from distance but were 12 of 29 against the Jayhawks.

Key moment
Issacs' back-to-back 3s early in the second half stemmed Kansas' comeback attempt, putting the Bluejays up 49-40.

Key stat
Greg McDermott, the Bluejays' career coaching wins leader and a former coach at Iowa State, won for the first time in his 11 games against Kansas.

Up next
Kansas: At Missouri on Sunday.
Creighton: Hosts UNLV on Saturday.

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