Tonight the Bluejays did what they needed to do to win the game and found a way to finish. Part of that finish was going perfect from the free throw line in the second half and playing some solid defense in the last few possessions. Those 10,000 or so fans that did make it out (not the over 15,000 announced) in the unpredictable Omaha weather this season with another set of icy roads were not disappointed with the effort made by this team tonight.
As I watched the first half tonight, it was a bit ugly as the Jays jumped out to an early 12-5 lead and seemed to have everything chugging along. However, several miscues and a lot of fouls called in the first 10 minutes of the game eventually had the game tied at 16 and and it was just not a fun half of basketball to watch. When I glanced at the stat board, I saw the Jays started 1-of-5 from the free throw line. But then with Kenny Lawson and Wayne Runnels with two fouls each, in stepped Chad “The Wizard” Millard came into the game and got the crowd and the team going. Chad finished the half guarding down low and the Jays went into the half with a one point lead.
I will have to say about the last 5-6 minutes of the half I was a bit distracted because the halftime entertainment was the yearly visit from the Crevier family who does the Basketball Spectacular Champions-Forever and they were preparing right in front of us.
I know Max was pretty bummed that he was missing out on this tonight. So hopefully the pictures make up for it 🙂
In the second half, the Jays looked like they were going to let another game slip away and pack it in for the season. They got down as far as nine points and it looked like the game was going to slip away. However, they fought and clawed their way back in the game and the lead changed hands 14 times in the second half.
The story of the night though was the free throw shooting. Though the Jays started 1-of-5 like I mentioned before, but they finished the game hitting their last 19 free throws and finished 26-of-32. Darryl Ashford and Cavel Witter hit the last 6 and the Bluejays closed out a game again at home where they are 9-1. Kenny Lawson had 20 points and at times dominated in the paint.
The Jays got to walk out of the Qwest Center again with some momentum as they hit the road this week against upstart Bradley and streaking Drake. Here is an interesting stat from Creighton Sports Information–Creighton has now won four straight home games, all by four points or less, for the first time since the 1945-46 campaign. The Valley is quite wacky again this season and time after time, Creighton is getting opportunities to perform well in the conference. They have this opportunity again and hopefully they can put together a performance like this on the road.