Creighton-UConn Big East semifinal game ends in scuffle over windmill dunk in final seconds

Emotions ran precocious connected Friday nighttime astatine Madison Square Garden arsenic Creighton precocious to the Big East last implicit the two-time defending nationalist champions successful UConn.

The Bluejays were coasting to a triumph and were capable to dribble the shot retired for the last seconds.

With the second-seeded Bluejays starring 69-62, they got a antiaircraft rebound with nether 10 seconds left, and Huskies manager Dan Hurley signaled for his squad to fto the timepiece tally retired without fouling.

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Connecticut Huskies defender Hassan Diarra (10) yells astatine Creighton Bluejays defender Jamiya Neal (5) arsenic clip runs retired connected the Huskies successful the 2nd fractional astatine Madison Square Garden.  (Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)

However, Jamiya Neal took disconnected streaking down the near sideline for a slam with 1.5 seconds remaining and hung onto the rim for a pullup. After his skirmish with Diarra, Neal waved his arms to occurrence up Creighton fans successful the sellout crowd.

Huskies defender Hassan Diarra shoved Neal successful the thorax and appeared to quadrate up with his fists for a divided 2nd arsenic the 2 were face-to-face. 

Creighton halfway Ryan Kalkbrenner separated them by pushing Neal distant arsenic whistles blew and players came streaming disconnected the benches astatine Madison Square Garden.

Order restored alternatively quickly, but the emotions were inactive tense aft the game.

"I mean, they were already up with 7 seconds left," Diarra said. "He didn't privation to dribble the shot out. Went successful for a fancy dunk. I conscionable felt it was disrespectful to the crippled of basketball."

Creighton Bluejays defender Jamiya Neal (5) dunks connected Connecticut Huskies arsenic clip ran retired connected the Huskies successful the 2nd fractional astatine Madison Square Garden.  (Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)

Neal admitted helium "got caught up successful the emotions of the game" and apologized.

Hurley and Bluejays manager Greg McDermott were already approaching each different on the sideline to shingle hands erstwhile Neal took disconnected for his dunk. McDermott appeared to apologize to Hurley instantly afterward, and again erstwhile the crippled ended.

Creighton and UConn person had their beef this twelvemonth already. Hurley taunted Creighton fans past period aft the Huskies brought location a roadworthy win, waving goodbye to the assemblage and yelling out, "Two rings!"

Last year, Hurley besides threatened to "knock out" a Creighton fan.

Jamiya Neal, #5 of the Creighton Bluejays, dunks the shot successful the 2nd fractional of a semifinal crippled against the Connecticut Huskies during the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament astatine Madison Square Garden connected March 14, 2025, successful New York City. The Bluejays won 71-62.  (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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It volition beryllium Creighton against St. John's for the Big East rubric astatine the Garden connected Saturday astatine 6:30 p.m. successful what is definite to beryllium a dense Red Storm crowd.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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