Kalkbrenner’s Historic 49-Point Masterpiece Propels Creighton to Season-Opening Victory
In a display of basketball brilliance that will be remembered for years to come, Ryan Kalkbrenner delivered one of the most remarkable performances in Big East history, powering No. 15 Creighton to a 99-86 victory over UT Riverside in their season opener on Wednesday night.
The 7-foot-1 center put on a shooting clinic that left spectators in awe, connecting on an almost perfect 20 of 22 shots from the field. His 49-point explosion wasn’t just a career high; it earned its place in the record books as the fifth-highest scoring output in Big East history and the second-highest in Creighton’s storied program.
“We went into the game planning to establish me in the post,” said Kalkbrenner, showing remarkable humility after his historic night. “I just kept working and wasn’t really thinking about what happened in the previous play. I was just trying to make the next one.”
The numbers tell a story of pure dominance:
- 91% shooting from the field—the highest percentage in a 45+ point game by any Division I player in 25 years.
- Perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range
- 7 of 8 are from the free-throw line.
- 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Coach Greg McDermott couldn’t contain his pride in his star player’s achievement. “To do something superhuman the first time you’re under the lights for real, it’s pretty special,” McDermott beamed. “There’s not a person on the planet that deserves success more than Ryan Kalkbrenner because of the way he’s approached everything daily.”
The historic performance almost reached an even more magical number, as fans chanted for Kalkbrenner to reach the 50-point mark in the closing minutes. Unaware he was just one point shy, the humble center chose to pass the ball to a teammate and let the clock run down.
While Kalkbrenner’s individual brilliance stole the headlines, the game itself remained competitive throughout. The Vaqueros, led by Hasan Abdul Hakim’s 24 points, kept the pressure on until the final minutes, staying within striking distance at 87-82 with just 2:37 remaining.
Kalkbrenner’s decision to return for his fifth year is already paying dividends. The three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, who averaged 17.3 points last season, showed significant growth in his offensive game. His performance drew comparisons to basketball legend Bill Walton, becoming the first player since Walton’s 1973 national championship game to make 20 field goals while shooting 90% or better.
Looking ahead, Creighton faces a challenging schedule, including matchups with ranked opponents Texas A&M, Kansas, and Alabama before entering Big East play. While Kalkbrenner’s historic night sets a high bar, the Bluejays will need more balanced scoring to compete for their first conference title since 2020.
As the final buzzer sounded and “MVP” chants echoed through the CHI Health Center, Kalkbrenner remained focused on the bigger picture. “Having a good first game is awesome,” he reflected, “but we have 30-something games left, and hopefully games that mean a lot more.”
With this performance, Kalkbrenner not only etched his name in the record books but also served notice that Creighton will be a force to be reckoned with this season. The basketball world will be watching closely to see what this talented center does next.