OMAHA – It was a fitting ending to a chaotic night in Omaha. UConn’s Liam McNeeley took to the free throw line for a one-and-one opportunity with 3.4 seconds to go, and he nailed both to cap off one of the best individual performances in recent memory.

The free throws capped McNeeley’s 38-point night, a UConn record for a freshman, and sealed the program’s first-ever win in Omaha, taking down 24th-ranked Creighton in front of more than 17,000 at the CHI Health Center. McNeeley scored 23 points in the second half as he willed the Huskies back from an eight-point deficit at halftime and finished with 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.

On 12-for-22 shooting from the field, McNeeley’s 38 points were the most from a UConn player since James Bouknight scored 40 against the Bluejays back in December, 2020.

UConn is now 3-8 in its all-time series with Creighton, splitting the regular season series and improving to 17-7 on the season and 9-4 in Big East play.

Solo Ball and Alex Karaban were the only other Huskies in double figures as they finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

With Hassan Diarra managing a lingering knee injury, UConn went without a point guard in its starting five as McNeeley returned to the lineup and Diarra went back to the sixth man role. The standout freshman, one of the Huskies’ few individual playmakers, scored UConn’s first nine points of the game as it fell behind early.

Creighton built and maintained a slim lead through the first 13 minutes, but the Bluejays hit a different gear around the seven-minute mark which looked similar to last year’s onslaught. In front of their sold-out crowd, fueled by $1 adult beverages on a Tuesday night, the Bluejays surged with a 14-2 run over four minutes as they made 6 of 7 from the field. Jamiya Neal, who scored 24 points in the Jan. 19 matchup in Storrs, started the run with a drive to the rim for a layup and finished it with a one-handed slam and a stepback 3-pointer.

The Huskies – battling foul trouble as Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. picked up two and three, respectively, trying to defend Ryan Kalkbrenner – cut into their deficit with a 6-0 run over the final three minutes of the half. The run continued after the break as UConn grabbed three offensive rebounds in the first minute and brought the score back to within one.

McNeeley scored more than half of UConn’s first half points (15) and was responsible for the team’s only made 3-pointer on nine attempts before the break. The freshman hit four of his first five 3-point attempts to start the second half. He was responsible for 11 points during a 13-4 run that gave the Huskies their first lead and pushed it to eight points with seven and a half minutes left as Johnson and Reed sat with four fouls a piece.

Creighton clawed back behind the steadiness of Kalkbrenner and multiple trips to the free throw line, tying the game at 65 around the two-minute mark. Karaban nailed a floater in the paint and Ball made the first free throw in a one-and-one situation with 19.6 seconds left to build a three-point cushion.

UConn fouled on the ensuing defensive possession, forcing Neal to the line for two shots rather than a 3-point attempt. Neal missed both, but Karaban missed the front end of his one-and-one opportunity. The Huskies fouled Jasen Green with four seconds to go, and the Bluejays forward made the first free throw before intentionally missing the second. McNeeley grabbed the rebound, was fouled and drained two free throws to seal the 70-66 win.

UConn will return to action on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. tip-off against last-place Seton Hall in New Jersey.

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