After scoring a career-high 33 points in a comeback win over Georgetown earlier in the week, Austin Swartz hopes to help Creighton continue its strong start in Big East Conference play on Friday evening at Providence.
Swartz averaged 5.9 points as a freshman before transferring from Miami to the Bluejays (11-7, 5-2 Big East) ahead of this season. He slowly worked his way into the lineup, totaling just eight points in Creighton’s first six contests.
However, since scoring 11 in an early-December victory over Nicholls, Swartz has blossomed offensively. He is averaging 17.3 points over Creighton’s last 11 games and is second on the team behind Josh Dix (12.2) in scoring on the season.
“When all you see is the rim, that’s a good thing. That’s one of the best feelings you can have,” Swartz said.
Dix added 15 points and Nik Graves chipped in with 13 points as the Bluejays won for the sixth time in eight games.
“We made some huge plays that last 1:40 on both ends of the floor,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. “Obviously, Austin’s shot-making was incredible.”
In Providence (8-9, 1-5), McDermott’s team is facing a squad that has routinely tested the Big East’s best, only to fall short time after time. The Friars have defeated St. John’s, and of their five conference losses, only one has come by more than six points.
That includes Tuesday night’s 88-82 setback against Villanova without leading scorer Jason Edwards, who sat out with an injured foot. Jaylin Sellers (24), Jamier Jones (23) and Stefan Vaaks (21) all scored 20 or more points in the defeat.
The Friars trailed by double digits at halftime, but came within two possessions before losing at the end.
“I thought our guys showed something in the second half that I hadn’t really seen much this season,” Providence coach Kim English said. “I was proud to see some resolve with our guys to get to that point. Now, it is just about getting it over the hump.”
