In a stunning display of skill and dominance, Creighton Bluejays center Ryan Kalkbrenner kicked off the college basketball season with a performance for the ages. The 7-foot-1 fifth-year senior poured in a career-high 49 points, leading No. 15 Creighton to a hard-fought 99-86 victory over the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros.
A Night for the Record Books
Kalkbrenner’s offensive onslaught was nothing short of spectacular. He connected on an incredible 20 of his 22 field goal attempts, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, while also converting 7 of 8 free throws. The big man’s efficiency was off the charts, as he seemingly scored at will against the overwhelmed Vaqueros defense.
The 49-point outburst etched Kalkbrenner’s name in several record books:
- 5th-most points in a single game in Big East history
- 2nd-most points in Creighton program history
- 2nd-most points by a player in a season opener in the last 25 years
- Tied the single-game Big East record with 20 made field goals
- Highest field goal percentage (91%) in a 45-point game by a Division I player in the last 25 seasons
Head coach Greg McDermott gushed about his star center’s performance, stating, “To go to work like he did in the offseason and then the first time you’re under the lights for real to do something superhuman, it’s pretty special. And he deserves it.”
A Team Effort to Secure the Win
Despite Kalkbrenner’s heroics, the Bluejays found themselves in a dogfight against the pesky Vaqueros. UT Rio Grande Valley, led by Hasan Abdul Hakim’s 24 points and 17 apiece from Cliff Davis and DK Thorn, refused to go away quietly. The Vaqueros pulled within five points with just over two minutes remaining, but Creighton managed to hold on for the victory.
We kind of went into this game trying to make a concerted effort to establish me in the post. I saw a few go in, and it just kept going from there.
– Ryan Kalkbrenner
Kalkbrenner’s teammates also played a crucial role in the win, with guard Steven Ashworth chipping in 25 points of his own. The Bluejays’ ability to weather the Vaqueros’ late surge and come away with a hard-earned victory bodes well for their prospects in the always-competitive Big East Conference.
A Sign of Things to Come?
As the college basketball season gets underway, Ryan Kalkbrenner’s jaw-dropping performance serves notice to the rest of the nation that Creighton is a force to be reckoned with. If the Bluejays’ star center can maintain even a fraction of his opening-night magic, Creighton could find itself making another deep run in the NCAA Tournament come March.
For now, however, Kalkbrenner and his teammates will savor this hard-fought victory and the individual accolades that come with it. As the Bluejays navigate the challenges of a grueling Big East schedule, they’ll lean on their superhuman center to lead the way, one record-breaking performance at a time.
