SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Despite 28 points from Alex Barcello and a BYU career-high 13 points from Seneca Knight, No. 24 BYU was unable to overcome an 18-point halftime deficit in an 83-71 loss to Creighton on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon.

“Congratulations to Creighton, they played great today,” said BYU head coach Mark Pope. “I liked our team’s fight and the good news is that we’ve got a whole week now to work really hard and get better.”

Creighton took control in the first half with an early 10-2 lead that ballooned to a 48-30 advantage at the half. The Bluejays gave the Cougars fits in the paint throughout the game, with 7-foot-1 center Ryan Kalkbrenner recording five of Creighton’s seven blocks on the day.

While BYU finished the game having outrebounded the Bluejays, the Cougars were outscored 36-28 in the paint and outshot 45-39 percent from the field.

A strong second half allowed the Cougars to cut into Creighton’s lead, but 11 Bluejay points off 15 BYU turnovers ultimately sealed the loss. 

Barcello’s 28-point performance allowed BYU to claw back into the game, as it cut Creighton’s lead to 10 in the second half with 44 percent shooting from the field. 

During a five-minute second half span, BYU resurged on a 15-4 run and forced 12 missed shots by the Bluejays. Barcello and Trevin Knell hit key 3-pointers during the Cougar run with Barcello’s coming off a heads-up offensive rebound from Fousseyni Traore.

The Cougars came within 10 after a strong defensive possession kept the Bluejays off the scoreboard and led to a Barcello outlet pass in transition to Knight for the corner triple.

Creighton responded on the ensuing possession with a 3-pointer of its own from shooting guard Alex O’Connell.

While the BYU defense kept Creighton scoreless from the field over the last four minutes, the Bluejays ended the game with 10-straight points scored at the free-throw line.

Barcello’s 28 points is one-short of tying a career-high. The senior from Chandler, Arizona shot 11-of-20 from the field and 5-of-7 from deep. Knight’s BYU career-high 13 points included 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

The Bluejays had four scorers in double-figures and were led by forward Ryan Hawkins’ 25 points.

BYU returns to action with an in-state battle versus Weber State on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. MST at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah. Watch the Cougars face the Wildcats on KJZZ or ESPN+ or listen live on BYU Radio, the BYU Sports Network and BYU Sports Network KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM.

PROVO, Utah – No. 24 BYU will face Creighton on Saturday morning at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 a.m. MST.

Saturday’s contest will be broadcast on FS1. It will also be broadcast live on BYU Sports Network on the BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143/89.1 FM HD2 and KSL 102.7 FM/1160 AM.

No. 24 BYU Notes (8-1, 0-0 West Coast Conference)

• BYU returned to the friendly confines of the Marriott Center on Wednesday to pick up their eighth win of the season with a 75-64 victory over in-state rival Utah State.
• Third-year head coach Mark Pope improved to 30-3 at the Marriott Center and is now 16-1 in non-conference play in Provo.
• Alex Barcello reached double figures in scoring for the 12th straight game with 17 points against USU. The All-American guard is shooting 49.6 percent from the floor, 41.9 percent from 3-point range and 90.6 percent from the free throw line during the streak.
•  The Cougars tied a season-high with 11 3-pointers on Wednesday evening, three of those coming from Trevin Knell. The junior guard was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc for a season-high 13 points.
• No moment is too big for Fousseyni Traore as the freshman scored eight of his career-high 14 points in the final four minutes of regulation. His was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

Head Coach – Mark Pope

• Alma Mater: Kentucky, 1996
• Division I Career Record: 129-72 (7th Season)
• Record at BYU: 52-16 (3rd Season)

Creighton Notes (7-2, 0-0 Big East)

• Creighton enters Saturday’s game at 7-2 following a 64-58 setback to No. 19 Iowa State. Saturday will be their fourth neutral site game of the season after competing in the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• The Bluejays are led by Greg McDermott, who is 259-127 during his 12 seasons in Omaha, Neb. Last season, he led Creighton to their first Sweet 16 appearance for the first time since 1974.
• Ryan Hawkins is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Bluejays. The Atlantic, Iowa native transferred to Creighton following five years at Northwest Missouri State where he was a two-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and led the Bearcats to a pair of National Championships. He is scoring 13.3 points per game while pulling down 6.3 rebounds per contest.
• Ryan Nembhard, a freshman guard and brother of Gonzaga’s Andrew Nembhard, is the top distributor for Creighton with 4.9 assists per game. He recorded a double-double, 15 points and 10 assists, in his first collegiate game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  

Head Coach – Greg McDermott

• Alma Mater: Northern Iowa, 1988
• Career Record: 540-322 (28th season)
• Record at Creighton: 260-127 (12th season)

Series Information

• Series Record: BYU leads 6-3
• Last Meeting: BYU won 77-65, December 1, 2010
• H/A/N: 2-0/3-3/1-0

Broadcast Information

• TV: FS1
• TV Talent: Telly Hughes, Shon Morris
• Radio: BYU Sports Network, BYU Radio Sirius XM 143/89.1 FM HD2, KSL 102.7 FM/1160 AM
• Streamed Audio: BYURadio.org, BYUCougars.com/LiveRadio and the BYU Radio, BYU Cougars and BYU Gameday apps
• Radio Talent: Greg Wrubell, Mark Durrant
• Live stats: BYUCougars.com