Intense Final Moments in Creighton-UConn Big East Semifinal Spark Controversy

Emotions surged on Friday night at Madison Square Garden as Creighton clinched a place in the Big East final, overcoming the formidable UConn, champions for the past two years.

The Bluejays showcased their skill, confidently dribbling the ball to burn the final seconds of the game.

With only 10 seconds remaining and the second-seeded Bluejays firmly in command with a score of 69-62, a defensive rebound put them in control. UConn’s coach Dan Hurley signaled his team to let the clock run out, opting against a foul.

However, as the game neared its conclusion, Jamiya Neal sprinted down the left sideline for a dramatic slam dunk with just 1.5 seconds on the clock, hanging onto the rim to emphasize the moment. Following a brief confrontation with Huskies player Diarra, Neal gestured to rev up the fervor of the sellout Creighton crowd.

In response, Huskies guard Hassan Diarra confronted Neal, pushing him in the chest. The two were engaged in a brief standoff, with even fists squared during the exchange. It took the intervention of Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who separated the pair by pushing Neal away as whistles blared and players poured off the benches at Madison Square Garden.

Although order was restored swiftly, the tension lingered in the air long after the final buzzer.

Diarra expressed his frustration regarding Neal’s actions. He remarked, ‘I mean, they were already up with seven seconds left. He didn’t want to dribble the ball out. Went in for a fancy dunk. I just felt it was disrespectful to the game of basketball.’

Neal acknowledged that he got caught up in the game’s excitement and offered an apology for his behavior.

As coaches Hurley and Greg McDermott approached one another along the sideline to shake hands, Neal’s impulsive dunk occurred. Following the game, McDermott appeared to apologize to Hurley multiple times, signaling the tension between the two teams.

Rivalry Intensifies

The rivalry between Creighton and UConn adds another layer to this already charged atmosphere. Earlier this season, Hurley made headlines by taunting Creighton fans following a UConn road victory, dramatically waving goodbye and shouting ‘Two rings!’

The previous year, tensions escalated when Hurley threatened to ‘knock out’ a Creighton fan during a heated confrontation.

Looking Ahead to the Final

As the dust settles from this dramatic semifinal, Creighton prepares to face St. John’s for the Big East title. The championship matchup is set for Saturday at 6:30 PM, where a heavy Red Storm crowd is anticipated.

The stakes are high, and fans can expect an electric atmosphere as these teams vie for the championship title. The events of the semifinal will surely linger in the minds of players and fans alike as they look ahead to what promises to be an intense showdown.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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