Hot Start Carries Creighton Men's Basketball Past Le Moyne

OMAHA, Neb. -- Jackson McAndrew had a career-high 19 points -- all in the first half -- as Creighton men's basketball never trailed in an 83-55 win over Le Moyne on Thursday night in the first meeting between the programs. 

McAndrew made five three-pointers in the opening half, outscoring Le Moyne (0-2) 19-17 himself, as Creighton (2-0) built a 54-17 lead by intermission. He finished with five rebounds as the Jays outscored Le Moyne 66-21 in his 23 minutes on the floor. Trevor Roe led the Dolphins with 12 points.

Creighton scored the first 13 points of the game, matching its second-best start in any game in the last 17 seasons, while posting the program's 96th wire-to-wire win inside CHI Health Center Omaha. All 13 of those points came by Bluejay newcomers, including five by Wes Enis and four from Oswin Erhunmwunse. 

Leading 18-9, McAndrew scored 14 points during Creighton's 24-0 run to put the game away, including four three-pointers in a span of 2:19 in a personal 12-0 run. The Jays also scored the final eight points of the first half, a run that started with McAndrew's final trey, before five points from Hudson Greer helped CU to a 54-17 lead at the break. Creighton's 37-point lead at the half matched its largest halftime advantage inside the 24-year-old CHI Health Center Omaha.

Le Moyne used a 20-2 run in the second half, narrowing its deficit to 64-40, before the Bluejays regained their footing with an 11-0 run. The Dolphins got no closer than 28 the rest of the way.

McAndrew's 19 points led three Bluejays in double-figures, as Enis (16) and Erhunmwunse (10) also got there as part of a balanced effort. Creighton made 11 three-pointers, won the rebound battle 52-32, and dished 20 assists on 29 baskets. CU also recorded 11 steals while forcing 19 turnovers.

Roe, Le Moyne's lone returner in uniform, had a team-high seven rebounds in addition to his 12 points. The Dolphins shot 30.4 percent from the field but made 14-of-16 foul shots (87.5 percent).

Creighton is back in action on Tuesday with a road test at Kansas State.