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OMAHA, Nebraska --- Houston Christian University couldn't get anything going offensively, falling to No. 14-ranked Creighton University 78-43 at the CHI Health Center on Wednesday night. It was the second straight loss for the Huskies, both to nationally-ranked opponents. 
 
Both teams started out a little sluggish, combining to make just three of the first twelve shots taken in the game. A three-pointer from D'Aundre Samuels at the 17:37 mark gave HCU a 5-3 lead and Porter Bazil's follow up bucket three minutes later put the Huskies ahead 7-3.
 
Steven Ashworth then hit two three-pointers and Ryan Kalkbrenner knocked down two shots as Creighton knocked off the dust to finish a 10-0 run that gave it a 13-7 lead. That run forced an HCU timeout, the first stoppage of play in over six minutes. The burst renewed after the break, with the margin growing to 12 before a second-effort bucket by Demari Williams cut the lead to 19-9 with 6:15 to go before the half.
 
HCU's offensive struggles continued, as it couldn't get anything to fall and scored just three points over the final six minutes, while conversely, the Bluejays found a rhythm. A three-point play by Kalkbrenner with 3:16 to go pushed the lead to 16, and seven quick points from Jamiya Neal helped the margin to grow to 27, 39-12 at the intermission. The Huskies shot just 15% while Creighton knocked down 5-12 from deep in a quickly moving first half.
 
The Huskies would fare better in the second half, holding the Jays to just 22% from the arc over the final 20 minutes. That included a strong finishing kick as HCU held the hosts to just four points over the final 5:25 of the game. D'Aundre Samuels and Mason McBride each had five points in the last burst, with Pierce Bazil chipping in the other four.
 
Samuels led the Huskies with eight points, while Pierce Bazil (seven) and Porter Bazil (six) combined for 13 in the return to their home state. Trent Johnson had five points and team-highs of seven rebounds and three assists while Porter Bazil added six.
 
Kalkbrenner scored a game-high 16 points to lead a trio of players in double-figures for Creighton, now 3-0 on the season. Ashworth added 13 and Frederick King had 11. Ashworth chipped in team-bests of seven boards and a game-high six assists.
 
HCU falls to 1-2 on the season. A return to Sharp Gym comes this Saturday, November 16, as the Huskies host Rockford University to begin a four-game homestand.
 
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