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Creighton celebrates a three-point shot by Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during...

Creighton celebrates a three-point shot by Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against DePaul at the Big East basketball tournament Thursday, March 13, 2025, in New York. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II

NEW YORK — Ryan Kalkbrenner had 32 points and scored the go-ahead basket in the second overtime after Creighton scored the final 11 points in regulation, and the Bluejays held on for an 85-81 victory over DePaul in a Big East Tournament quarterfinal at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Kalkbrenner scored in the paint to give No. 2 seed Creighton a 77-76 lead and the Bluejays (23-9) never trailed over the final 2:12 against the 10th-seeded Blue Demons (14-19). Creighton advanced to the semifinals Friday night against third-seeded UConn, which earned a 73-56 victory over No. 6 seed Villanova.

Creighton's Fedor Zugic and Steven Ashworth had 3-pointers at both ends of an 11-0 run to end regulation. Ashworth's shot came with 21 seconds left and forced OT tied at 62.

A layup by Ty Davis gave the Bluejays a 72-64 lead with 1:33 left in the first OT. The Blue Demons' Layden Blocker outscored Creighton 9-1 from there and his jumper with one second left forced a second OT tied at 73.

Kalkbrenner also grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots for Creighton. Zugic had 13 points off the bench and Ashworth scored 10 before fouling out.

Blocker hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 to lead DePaul, which has never reached the Big East semifinals. Isaiah Rivera totaled 17 points and nine rebounds. CJ Gunn scored 14 before fouling out.

Rivera had nine points and Gunn scored eight to guide the Blue Demons to a 36-21 lead at halftime.

Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball in front of...

Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball in front of DePaul's Troy D'Amico during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big East basketball tournament Thursday, March 13, 2025, in New York. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II

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