A Corner Three from Steven Ashworth Gives Creighton a 62 – 60 Win Over Villanova
PHILADELPHIA, PA 2/1/2025 –
A hard fought battle that came down to the last made basket. That basket went to the Creighton BlueJays, a banked corner three by Steven Ashworth, who take home a 62 – 60 win over the Villanova Wildcats at the Wells Fargo Center. Creighton was awarded the ball on an out of bounds call to set up Ashworth’s critical basket at the five second mark.
“As soon as I caught it, trying to make sure I had a good clean look at it,” Ashworth said about the winning possession. “Back peddling to the corner with the pass coming from behind the basket isn’t the easiest type of shot. Obviously, missed it a little left, but that’s why the backboards are there.”
“I just told the team we got a little coin that a dear friend gave me when mu Mom passed away a year and a half ago,” Creighton Coach Doug McDermott shared. “It says where you go, I go. And it’s got her name on it. I was rubbing this to death on the last play, and somehow she steered that thing off the backboard in the corner, into the net, and that play was executed to perfection.”
Good fortune went the BlueJays way.
For Villanova is was a tough basket against them at the end in a game that had many types of swing plays.,
“He made a tough shot over an extended Enoch (Boakye) try to contest it,” said Villanova Coach Kyle Neptune. “I think it went off the side of the backboard. Most everyone looks at the last minute of the game and those plays. And those get highlighted. But there’s so many plays along the duration of the game that can sway it either way. That was one was tough for sure.”
The Wildcats had one last chance but the ball went off the leg of Eric Dixon with under a second remaining.
“Drove to the right, and dribbled off my foot, it went out of bounds,” Dixon said.
Poplar Keyed the Villanova Offense
The game would not have been the close without the heroics of Wildcats guard Wooga Poplar who scored 24 points, one shy of his career-high. He had 19 points in the second half, and 17 points in the last ten-plus minutes of the game. Poplar gave Nova a 60 – 59 lead with 14 seconds to play on a steal and a dunk. He did set his collegiate-mark with 5 steals. A full second half game by the senior guard gave Villanova a lift that kept the game within reach.
“He had it going offensively, but I think those defensive plays he made, especially that one at the end that led to the dunk, just what we’re looking for, a defender at a high level,” said teammate Jordan Longino.”I think her proved that today for a full forty minutes. It’s just we didn’t get it done in the end.”
A Gritty Defensive Effort by Villanova
Neither team shot the ball particularly well especially from deep. Creighton was 6 of 26 from behind the arc while Nova was 3 of 17. Ironic that Ashford drained two three-point shots, two of their last three baskets. The Wildcats played from behind but kept it close with defense. Villanova had a season-best 13 steals which led to a 25 – 4 advantage on points off turnovers.
What the Numbers Say
Dixon scored 17 points, 7 below his season average. He has contributed more than 16 points in every game this season. He reached the 2,000 career-point plateau late in the game. That was not on his mind at the time.
“Be proud, but I mean right now it’s not that part,” Dixon said.
It is usually a good omen for Villanova when they hold teams under 70 points. But the Wildcats are now 10 – 3 in these types of games.
Ashworth scored 13 points. He contributed 7 assists and 7 rebounds. Jamiya Neal also scored 13 points and took down 9 rebounds, none bigger than his offensive board and follow up with 49 seconds to play that tied the game at 59. Ryan Kalkbrenner led the Blue Jays in scoring with 22 points on 9 of 11 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds.
Up Next
Creighton (16 – 6, 9 -2) takes a seven-game winning streak to Providence for a Wednesday game.
Villanova (12 – 10, 5 – 6) looks to snap a three-game losing streak at DePaul the same night. Another tough minded Big East game.
“That’s what the Big East is,” Neptune said. “They go against a lot of high level teams with really good coaches,” said Neptune. “We’ll be ready for the next one.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
Be the first to comment