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Creighton Advances to Big East Final in Emotion-Filled Showdown with UConn
Amid an electrifying atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, the Creighton Bluejays secured a spot in the Big East final by defeating the defending national champions, the Connecticut Huskies, in a fiercely contested match.
As the game neared its conclusion, the Bluejays were positioned comfortably with a 69-62 lead. With under ten seconds remaining, they grabbed a crucial defensive rebound, prompting UConn’s coach Dan Hurley to instruct his team to let the clock wind down without committing a foul.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Creighton’s Jamiya Neal bolted down the left sideline for an emphatic slam dunk with just 1.5 seconds left on the clock. Following the dunk, Neal hung onto the rim and engaged in an animated exchange with Huskies guard Hassan Diarra, energizing the passionate Creighton fans present.
In the heat of the moment, Diarra confronted Neal, pushing him in the chest, while the two players exchanged intense words just before order was restored by Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who intervened to separate them. The situation escalated quickly, prompting players from both benches to rush towards the scene as whistles blared from the officials.
Despite the swift resolution of the on-court conflict, tension lingered. Diarra expressed his frustration, stating, “They were already up with seven seconds left. He didn’t want to dribble the ball out. Went in for a fancy dunk. I just felt it was disrespectful to the game of basketball.”
In response, Jamiya Neal later acknowledged that he allowed himself to become overwhelmed by the emotions of the match, offering an apology for his actions. Notably, as the coaches from both teams—Hurley and Creighton’s Greg McDermott—made their way to greet each other along the sideline, Neal’s dunk took place, leading to an immediate and informal apology from McDermott to Hurley afterward.
The rivalry between Creighton and UConn has been palpable throughout the season. Just weeks prior, Hurley had taunted Creighton’s fans after a road victory, exuberantly waving goodbye and emphasizing their championship success with the phrase, “Two rings!” Last season also saw Hurley threaten physical confrontation with a Creighton fan, further intensifying the competitive fire between the programs.
Looking ahead, Creighton will face St. John’s for the Big East title on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with expectations of a large and passionate Red Storm fan presence. The Bluejays’ victory in this semifinal marks a significant milestone as they continue to forge their path in the conference tournament.
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