Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball: Providence Friars at Creighton Bluejays 01/20/2021

Creighton Bluejays Preview

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball’. Tonight, it is a Big East Matchup, between Providence Friars and Creighton Bluejays.

Friars are on a 3-game losing streak and they are in must win mode, if they want to be considered a bubble team for NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

As for the Bluejays, they are coming off a loss to Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse and they are trying to stay afloat before their star player Marcus Zegarowski can return for the defending Big East Regular Season Champions. Creighton’s leader in assists is a game-time decision.

Friars are led by David Duke in scoring and assists. Providence is led by Nate Watson in rebounding.

The Bluejays are also led by Denzel Mahoney in scoring. And the Omaha Catholic University is led in rebounding by Christian Bishop.

It is Providence Friars taking on Creighton Bluejays, coming up shortly.

Possible Starting Lineups:
Providence Friars:
G: D. Duke
G: A.J. Reeves
G: A. Reed
F: J. Nichols, Jr.
C: N. Watson

Creighton Bluejays:
G: M. Ballock
G: D. Mahoney
G: S. Mitchell
F: D. Jefferson
F: C. Bishop​

Friars are in their visiting black uniforms. While Bluejays are in their home white uniforms. 

Marcus Zegarowski is back in the lineup, for the Bluejays.

1st Half:
20:00: Friars win tipoff attacking left basket. While Bluejays attacking right basket, having the possession arrow, in their favor. 
19:43: Watson makes a layup. PROV 2, CREI 0
19:11: Watson with a jump shot. PROV 4, CREI 0
18:05: Nichols with a 3-point FG. PROV 7, CREI 0
17:52: Bishop with a layup. PROV 7, CREI 2
17:43: Watson makes a layup. PROV 9, CREI 2
17:31: Breed with a layup. PROV 11, CREI 2
15:37: Reeves with a jam. PROV 13, CREI 2
15:37: BLUEJAYS TIMEOUT #1: PROV 13, CREI 2

​15:14: Zegarowski makes both free throws. PROV 13, CREI 4
15:02: Nichols with a jump shot. PROV 15, CREI 4
14:44: Zegarowski makes both free throws. PROV 15, CREI 6
14:17: Breed makes a 3-point FG. PROV 18, CREI 6
14:05: Nichols makes both free throws. PROV 20, CREI 6
13:11: Watson makes a jump shot. PROV 22, CREI 6
11:52: T.V. Timeout #1: PROV 22, CREI 6

​11:52: Watson makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 23, CREI 6
11:39: Bishop makes a layup and foul. Bishop missed a free throw. PROV 23, CREI 8
11:05: Duke commits his 2nd personal foul.
10:56: Bishop commits his 2nd personal foul.
9:55: Zegarwoski makes a jump shot. PROV 23, CREI 11
9:54: FRIARS TIMEOUT #1: PROV 23, CREI 11
9:41: Horchler makes a layup. PROV 25, CREI 11
9:13: Kalkbrenner makes a layup. PROV 25, CREI 13
8:37: Both teams are in the Bonus.
8:37: Jefferson makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 25, CREI 14
7:55: Friars with a shot clock violation.
7:55: T.V. Timeout #2: PROV 25, CREI 14

NCAA MBK Top 25 Scores:

​7:45: Jefferson makes a 3-point FG. PROV 25, CREI 17
7:23: Duke with a 3-point FG. PROV 28, CREI 17
7:02: Mahoney missed a free throw.
6:29: Jefferson makes a layup. PROV 28, CREI 19
5:56: Jefferson with a layup. PROV 28, CREI 21
5:38: Jefferson with a steal and a layup. PROV 28, CREI 23
5:14: Nichols makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 29, CREI 23
5:02: Zegarowski makes a 3-point FG. PROV 29, CREI 26
4:12: Breed makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 30, CREI 26
3:25: T.V. Timeout #3: PROV 30, CREI 26

3:25: Duke makes both free throws. PROV 32, CREI 26
3:25: Friars are in the Double Bonus.
3:15: Bluejays commit a 10-second violation. Friars Ball.
2:53: Zegarowski makes a layup. PROV 32, CREI 28
2:37: Breed makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 33, CREI 28
2:31: Mahoney makes both free throws. PROV 33, CREI 30
2:16: Watson makes a layup. PROV 35, CREI 30
1:46: Jefferson missed a free throw.
1:46: Bluejays are in the double bonus.
​1:21: Breed makes both free throws. PROV 37, CREI 30
1:08: Jefferson with a tipin. PROV 37, CREI 32
:48: Watson with a jam. PROV 39, CREI 32
:28.5: Jefferson makes both free throws. PROV 39, CREI 34
:00: The End of 1st Half. Bluejays will inbound to start the 2nd Half.

Halftime:
PROV 39, CREI 34

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: Jefferson (CREI) 13 points
Rebounding: Breed/Gantt (PROV) 5 rebounds
Assists: Duke (PROV) 5 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
Friars got off to an 23-8 start. But the game is bogged down to a battle on the free throw line. 

NCAA MBK Top 25 Scores:

2nd Half:
20:00: Bluejays to inbound to start the 2nd Half attacking left basket. Friars will attack the right basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor.
​19:39: Jefferson makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 39, CREI 35
19:17: Breed makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 40, CREI 35
18:29: Watson makes a FG. PROV 42, CREI 35
18:01: Nichols makes a jump shot. PROV 44, CREI 35
17:23: Bishop with a jam. PROV 44, CREI 37
17:00: Duke makes both free throws. PROV 46, CREI 37
16:31: Watson with  a tipin. PROV 48, CREI 37
16:16: Bishop makes a layup. PROV 48, CREI 39
15:55: T.V. Timeout #4: PROV 48, CREI 39

15:47: Watson makes both free throws. PROV 50, CREI 39
15:47: Bishop commits his 3rd personal foul.
15:20: Breed with a layup. PROV 52, CREI 39
14:20: Kalkbrenner with a tipin. PROV 52, CREI 41
13:24: Jones with a fade away. PROV 52, CREI 43​
12:08: Gantt with a jam. PROV 54, CREI 43
11:37: T.V. Timeout #5: PROV 54, CREI 43

​10:34: Kalkbrenner with a jam. PROV 54, CREI 45
9:35: Watson with a hook shot. PROV 56, CREI 45
9:24: Jefferson with a FG. PROV 56, CREI 47
8:52: Breed commits his 4th personal foul.
8:00: Bluejays are in the Bonus.
7:58: Jefferson with a layup. PROV 56, CREI 49
7:39: T.V. Timeout #6: PROV 56, CREI 49

​NCAA MBK Top 25 Scores:

​7:14: Both teams are in the Bonus.
7:14: Jefferson with a hook shot and foul. Jefferson makes a free throw. PROV 56, CREI 52
6:12: Friars commit a shot clock violation. 
6:02: Zegarowski makes both free throws. PROV 56, CREI 54 
6:02: Duke commits his 4th personal foul.
5:44: Watson makes a layup and foul. Watson missed a free throw. PROV 58, CREI 54
5:42: Nichols commits his 4th personal foul.
5:42: FRIARS TIMEOUT #2: PROV 58, CREI 54
5:42: Bluejays are in the Double Bonus.
5:42: Mahoney makes 1 of 2 free throws. PROV 58, CREI 55
5:08: Gantt with steal and layup. PROV 60, CREI 55
4:55: Bishop with a layup. PROV 60, CREI 57
4:26: Watson with a jam. PROV 62, CREI 57
4:09: Bishop with a FG. PROV 62, CREI 59
3:46: Breed with a 3-point FG. PROV 65, CREI 59
3:30: T.V. Timeout #7: PROV 65, CREI 59

​3:22: Mahoney makes a jump shot. PROV 65, CREI 61
2:28: Jefferson with a layup. PROV 65, CREI 63
2:06: Watson with another clutch jam. PROV 67, CREI 63
1:56: BLUEJAYS TIMEOUT #2: PROV 67, CREI 63
1:48: Jefferson missed both free throws. 
1:48: Friars' biggest win this year is against TCU (NET Ranking: #101).
1:20: Jump Ball! Friars Ball! Bluejays will have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
1:20: FRIARS TIMEOUT #3: PROV 67, CREI 63
:58: Ballock with a layup. PROV 67, CREI 65
:28.9: Duke with a 3-point FG. PROV 70, CREI 65
:20.9: Watson makes both free throws. PROV 72, CREI 65
:16.5: Jefferson makes both free throws. PROV 72, CREI 67
:16.5: BLUEJAYS TIMEOUT #3: PROV 72, CREI 67
:13.6: Watson missed a free throws.
:05.3: Zegarowski with a miracle 3-point FG. PROV 72, CREI 70
:05.3: BLUEJAYS FINAL TIMEOUT: PROV 72, CREI 70
:02.7: Both teams are in the Double Bonus. 
:02.7: Duke makes both free throws. PROV 74, CREI 70
:00: The End of Game.

Final:
PROV 74, CREI 70
PROV: (8-6, 4-4 Big East)
CREI: (10-4, 6-3 Big East)

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Watson (PROV) 29 points
Rebounding: Gantt (PROV) 7 rebounds
Assists: Duke (PROV) 5 assists

Final Thoughts:
Friars had big leads, then Bluejays make runs to single digits. And every time Creighton had a run, Nate Watson stopped the bleeding for Providence. For the Bluejays, their shooting just showed up too late. 

This win is now the biggest win for the Friars on their tournament resume. They should move up on the daily NET Rankings, Tomorrow Morning. 

Friars will head to Philadelphia Area, to play Villanova on Saturday. While Creighton will also play on Saturday, when they host UConn. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page.