Creighton and coach Greg McDermott are hoping to avoid a third season sweep by a conference foe when they host Providence in their home finale on Saturday in Omaha, Neb.
The reeling Bluejays (14-15, 8-10 Big East Conference) have dropped four of five, including identical 72-71 heartbreaks to DePaul, the most recent occurring on Wednesday at home.
Creighton also lost to Villanova and St. John’s during the stretch, but did produce a 91-84 upset over then-No. 5 UConn only 11 days ago.
Josh Dix scored 15 points, Nik Graves added 14, and Jasen Green contributed 13 points with a game-high nine rebounds, but Creighton couldn’t hold the lead in a contest it controlled most of the way.
“Obviously disappointing, to lead the game virtually the whole game, and to have that transpire at the end is tough to swallow,” McDermott said. “We’ve got one more home game, and it’s a really important game for us, because we’re fighting for our lives to try to stay in that four-five game, and we’ve got some people really on our heels right now.”
Fedor Žugic, recently elevated to the starting lineup, scored 13 against DePaul and is averaging 12.0 points in his three starts. The guard has reached double figures in five of his last 10 games after doing so just twice in his first 41 at Creighton.
“He’s a bigger guard with a lot of experience just playing basketball,” Graves said. “(He’s) just another great defender on the defensive end, but offensively, just someone who can space the floor, the ability to attack the paint, get a paint touch and make a play from there.”
Providence (13-15, 6-11) arrives riding momentum, winning two straight and four of six to close the gap in the standings with the Bluejays. The Friars beat DePaul last weekend, 71-68, and topped Xavier on Wednesday, 94-84, led by Jaylin Sellers with 27 points.
Jason Edwards knocked down 4 of 7 from 3-point range and tallied 24 points. Jamier Jones chipped in with 19 points and seven rebounds, and Oswin Erhunmwunse posted his fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“It’s been a season of ups and downs,” Providence coach Kim English said. “Our guys have not let go of the rope. …They’re going to continue to learn and get better.”
Edwards missed eight games this season, including last month’s 93-88 triumph over Creighton. Sellers was held to four points, but Stefan Vaaks had 24 while Jones (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Erhunmwunse (14, 13) both recorded double-doubles.
Vaaks missed the Xavier victory recovering from illness, but he has scored 20 points eight times this season.
