OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton played one of its worst offensive games of the season against St. John's but still was tough enough to protect its home court against one of the Big East's surprise teams.

Trey Alexander made the go-ahead free throws with 12.3 seconds left, and the No. 22 Bluejays ended St. John’s four-game win streak with a 66-65 win on Saturday.

The Bluejays (13-4, 4-2 Big East) prevailed in a physical, back-and-forth game that St. John’s (12-5, 4-2) looked to have in hand in the middle of the second half.

“We've often been accused of not being able to win a mud fight and today we did,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.

The Bluejays shot 22% on 3-pointers, going 6 of 27 for only their third game under 30% from distance. They shot 36.7% overall, their second-worst mark of the season.

“Our shots weren’t falling, but we still played with a bunch of energy and we didn’t give up easy things on defense just because we weren't making shots,” center Ryan Kalkbrenner said. “You’ve got to win these rock fight games when the shots aren’t going in and things are getting physical.”

Kalkbrenner led the Bluejays with 18 points, nine rebounds and four blocks — none bigger than his swat of Daniss Jenkins' shot in the final minute that led to Alexander's winning free throws.

Alexander had missed a jumper on the other end, but Francisco Farabello scrapped for the rebound and got the ball back to Alexander, who drove the baseline and got fouled by Jenkins.

Jenkins and Jordan Dingle missed shots in the final seconds to give the Bluejays their fourth straight win.

“Nothing they did was overly impressive. Nothing we did was overly impressive,” St. John's coach Rick Pitino said. “Just two teams playing their heart out and they came out with the victory.”

The Red Storm have lost seven straight against the Bluejays and haven't won in Omaha since 2019.

Baylor Scheierman had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Creighton.

St. John's Joel Soriano had 13 points and 11 rebounds for his Big East-leading 10th double-double.

Creighton trailed by nine points after Scheierman was called for a technical foul with just under 10 minutes left. The Bluejays went on a 12-2 run to go ahead briefly, and there were five lead changes before Alexander put his team in front to stay.

“Extremely disappointing loss for us,” Pitino said. “We played good enough to win but on the road you have to get loose balls, got to get reobunds. The team is very down about it.”

BIG PICTURE

St. John's: The Red Storm came to Omaha with its best Big East start since 2000-01 and just fell short in their bid for their first road win over a ranked opponent. Pitino, who took over a program that has had a losing Big East record seven of the last eight years, must be considered the early favorite for conference coach of the year.

Creighton: The Bluejays are 12-1 at home all-time against the Johnnies, but this wasn't the blowout recent meetings have been. A hard-nosed win like this should serve them well going forward.

PITINO WON'T BLAME REFS

Pitino didn't bite when reporters asked if there should have been a fouled called on St. John's last possession. Farabello leaned into and knocked over Dingle as Dingle took the final shot just outside the top of the lane.

“I’m not going to blame it on them,” Pitino said. “We have to be tough enough to make a mid-range jumper in the lane.”

UP NEXT

St. John's: visits Seton Hall on Tuesday.

Creighton: visits No. 4 Connecticut on Wednesday.

Colorado takes over in 2nd half to defeat short-handed USC 68-58 in Bronny James' first start

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — J'Vonne Hadley led a balanced attack with 15 points and Colorado held USC to 21 points in the second half as the Buffaloes defeated the short-handed Trojans 68-58 on Saturday night in freshman Bronny James' first start for the Trojans.

James was no factor as USC raced to a 37-24 halftime lead. His struggles continued in the second half when Hadley had 10 points and Colorado took over. James finished 0-for-7 shooting, with three shots coming from 3-point range. He added two rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes.

Cody Williams scored 13 points for the Buffaloes (12-5, 3-3 Pac-12 Conference), who ended a three-game losing streak. Tristan da Silva and Eddie Lampkin both scored 12.

Colorado improved to 10-0 at home and got its 500th victory in the CU Events Center.

Oziyah Sellers had a career-high 18 points for the Trojans (8-9, 2-4) and Kobe Johnson, DJ Rodman and Vincent Iwuchukwu all scored 10.

USC was without Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier and Joshua Morgan. Ellis (18.7 ppg) strained a hamstring a week earlier but played in the Trojans' last game. That's when Collier (15.4) suffered a hand injury that will keep him out 4 to 6 weeks. Morgan (69% shooting) missed his second game with a respiratory infection.

Colorado was up 59-55 with three minutes to go when Williams scored in the lane. Simpson drilled a key 3-pointer with 1:13 to go and Lampkin had a monster dunk at 48 seconds, when USC coach Andy Enfield picked up a technical. Williams made a free throw to finish the clinching 9-0 run.

Colorado went 5 of 15 over the last 7-plus minutes and still finished at 56% in the second half (18 of 32). The Trojans were 7 for 29 (24%) in the second half with 10 turnovers.

Sellers matched his career high in the first half with 16 points when the Trojans took a 37-24 lead. Colorado, a team that shoots just a fraction over 50%, was 9 of 29 (31%).

Sellers had four points to start a 12-0 run that was capped by Johnson's three-point play for a 27-11 lead at the 8:42 mark.

The Buffaloes had a late 9-3 surge to get within 10, but Sellers came up with five points just before halftime.

Colorado scored six quick points out of halftime and turned that into a 12-2 surge, closing within 39-36 on a layup by Da Silva. The Buffaloes tied the game on a fastbreak layup by Julian Hammond III and after Kijani Wright scored for USC, Luke O'Brien put Colorado up 46-45 with a 3-pointer, the Buffs' first lead since 9-8.

Colorado stays home to face the Oregon schools, starting with the Ducks on Thursday. USC goes on its Arizona swing, starting with the No. 8 Wildcats on Wednesday.

Fidler scores 34, Omaha takes down North Dakota State 96-92 in OT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Frankie Fidler scored a season-high 34 points to lead Omaha over North Dakota State 96-92 in overtime on Saturday night.

Fidler made 11 of 19 shots with four 3-pointers for the Mavericks (10-9, 3-1 Summit League). He added 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. JJ White scored 19 points while shooting 6 of 11 from the field and 6 for 7 from the line, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. Marquel Sutton shot 8 of 15 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line to finish with 19 points. Nick Davis pitched in with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Bison (8-10, 1-2) were led by sophomore Damari Wheeler-Thomas, who scored a career-best 30 on 12-for-17 shooting with four 3-pointers. Andrew Morgan added a season-high 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting with seven rebounds off the bench. Boden Skunberg scored 18, while Jacari White pitched in with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Amey hits last-second 3-pointer to lift San Jose State over Air Force 70-67

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Myron Amey Jr. hit a game-winning 3-pointer with one second left, scoring 16 to lead San Jose State over Air Force 70-67 on Saturday night.

Amey also added nine rebounds for the Spartans (8-9, 1-3 Mountain West Conference). Tibet Gorener added 15 points while going 5 of 13 from the floor, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line, and he also had five rebounds. Alvaro Cardenas Torre had 11 points and shot 5 for 11, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc.

The Falcons (7-8, 0-3) were led by Ethan Taylor, who posted 19 points. Beau Becker added 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for Air Force. In addition, Rytis Petraitis finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Falcons extended their losing streak to six straight.

Gorener scored 11 points in the first half for San Jose State, which led 46-33 at the break.

Goracke's 25 help Montana State knock off Northern Colorado 90-81

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Brian Goracke scored 25 points as Montana State beat Northern Colorado 90-81 on Saturday night.

Goracke was 7 of 10 shooting, including 3 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 8 for 8 from the line for the Bobcats (8-9, 3-1 Big Sky Conference). Brandon Walker scored 22 points while shooting 8 of 11 from the field and 6 for 7 from the line, and added five rebounds and five assists. Eddie Turner III shot 7 for 12, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 18 points.

Saint Thomas finished with 27 points and eight rebounds for the Bears (9-7, 2-1). Northern Colorado also got 19 points from Brock Wisne. In addition, Dejour Reaves finished with 11 points. The loss snapped the Bears' five-game winning streak.

Bruner scores 26 and Denver defeats South Dakota State 99-80

DENVER (AP) — Tommy Bruner had 26 points in Denver's 99-80 victory against South Dakota State on Saturday night.

Bruner added six assists for the Pioneers (11-7, 2-1 Summit League). Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente scored 23 points and added five rebounds and five assists. Touko Tainamo had 13 points and was 4 of 8 shooting and 3 of 5 from the free throw line.

The Jackrabbits (9-9, 2-1) were led in scoring by William Kyle III, who finished with 26 points and eight rebounds. Zeke Mayo added 19 points, two steals and two blocks for South Dakota State. Charlie Easley contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Young's 26 points, 11 rebounds help No. 25 UNLV beat Air Force 76-64, extend MWC win streak

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Desi-Rae Young had 26 points and 11 rebounds and Kiara Jackson scored 16 points to help No. 25 UNLV beat Air Force 76-64 on Saturday for the Runnin' Rebels 28th straight win against Mountain West Conference opponents.

Young, who made 9 of 13 from the field and 8 of 13 from the free-throw line, had her fifth double-double of the season.

UNLV (14-1, 4-0) has won five games in a row since an 84-54 loss at Seton Hall on Dec. 16. The Rebels are 50-5 all-time and have won 22 in a row versus Air Force.

Young made a layup with 8:56 left in the second quarter that gave UNLV the lead for good and sparked a 10-2 run that made it 24-17 when Alyssa Durazo-Frescas hit a 3 about two minutes later. The Rebels scored 11 straight, the final seven by Desi-Rae Young to make it a 15-point game and went into halftime leading 38-26.

Milahnie Perry scored five points and Dasha Macmillan the other four in a 9-3 spurt that trimmed the Falcons' deficit to six midway through the third quarter. Durazo-Frescas hit a 3 and Nneka Obiazor followed 30 seconds later with a three-point play that made it 51-39 with 4:06 left in the period and UNLV led by double figures the rest of the way.

Macmillan scored 19 points and tied her career high with seven rebounds for Air Force (9-9, 2-3). Keelie O’Hollaren added 15 points and Perry finished with 10 points, six assists and two blocks.

UNLV outrebounded the Falcons 42-30, had a 15-7 advantage on the offensive glass and outscored Air Force 16-6 in second-chance points.

Durazo-Frescas hit three 3-pointers and added 12 points for the Rebels.

UNLV wraps up its two-game road trip at San Diego State on Wednesday. Air Force also plays Wednesday when the Falcons visits Colorado State.

Wenzel, Kot lead Wyoming over Fresno State 68-67

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Brendan Wenzel led Wyoming with 17 points and Akuel Kot scored the game-winning jump shot with one second left as the Cowboys beat Fresno State 68-67 on Saturday night.

Wenzel had eight rebounds for the Cowboys (9-8, 2-2 Mountain West Conference). Sam Griffin scored 16 points and Kot added 12 points.

Isaiah Pope finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Bulldogs (7-9, 0-3). Donavan Yap added 12 points for Fresno Statek and Xavier Dusell scored 10.

Griffin scored 10 points in the first half and Wyoming went into the break trailing 35-28. Wenzel scored 14 second-half points. Wyoming outscored Fresno State by eight points over the final half.