In a thrilling season opener, Ryan Kalkbrenner delivered an extraordinary performance, scoring a career-high 49 points to lead No. 15 Creighton past UT-Rio Grande Valley, 99-86, at Omaha’s CHI Health Center. Kalkbrenner came within two points of Creighton’s single-game scoring record, set in 1967, and became the first Big East player to score 40+ points in a season opener.
Kalkbrenner’s Record-Breaking Night
The 7-foot-1 center was nearly unstoppable, shooting 20-of-22 from the field and adding 7-of-8 free throws, including two three-pointers. Kalkbrenner’s efficiency mirrored a legendary performance by Bill Walton, who was the last player to score 20 field goals while shooting 90% or better in a Division I game (1973 national championship with UCLA).
Head coach Greg McDermott praised Kalkbrenner’s statement performance: “He’s one of the best players to ever play here,” he said. Despite attempts to get him the ball on their final possessions for a shot at 50 points, Kalkbrenner seemed content with his already historic night.
Other Standout Performances and Team Challenges
Steven Ashworth contributed 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, but with 17 of his points coming from free throws, Creighton struggled to find a balanced scoring attack. Missing newcomer Pop Isaacs, who is recovering from a hip injury, the Bluejays were challenged by the Vaqueros’ persistent offense, which kept the game close through the second half.
UT-Rio Grande Valley, led by Hasan Abdul Hakim’s 26 points and 11 rebounds, along with contributions from Cliff Davis and DK Thorn, put up a strong fight against Creighton despite a 6-25 season last year.
Kalkbrenner’s Return and Creighton’s Ambitions
A three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Kalkbrenner announced in May that he would return for his final season. After averaging 17.3 points, 3.1 blocks, and a 65% shooting rate last season, he is expected to be central in Creighton’s quest for a conference title and deep NCAA tournament run.
A Tough Road Ahead
Creighton will face challenging non-conference opponents like No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 1 Kansas, and No. 2 Alabama before Big East play, where they’ll contend with No. 18 Marquette and reigning champion No. 3 UConn. Kalkbrenner’s performance shows his potential impact, but Creighton’s success may hinge on developing a more balanced offensive approach to support their star center.
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