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McDermott paces Bluejays past Northern Iowa

Jan 16, 2013 - 3:40 AM Omaha, NE (Sports Network) - Doug McDermott scored 31 points to lead the 12th- ranked Creighton Bluejays to their 11th consecutive victory, a 79-68 decision over the Northern Iowa Panthers.

McDermott, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, shot 12-of-22 to go along with four rebounds and three assists.

Austin Chatman had 12 points and Grant Gibbs added 11 with seven assists for Creighton (17-1, 6-0 MVC), which is off to its best start through 18 games in school history.

Anthony James paced the Panthers (9-9, 2-4) with 25 points, while Jake Koch supplied 19.

Northern Iowa raced out to a 14-7 lead, but the Bluejays fought back and a Jahenns Manigat layup tied the game at 18-18. After consecutive baskets by Koch and James, Will Artino hit a layup and Gibbs knocked down a trey to put Creighton up 23-22 with 7:05 remaining in the first half.

The Bluejays led by as many as seven before settling for a 37-32 advantage at the break.

A McDermott layup made it 51-41, and the lead stretched to a game-high 16 points at 70-54 on two Chatman free throws with 3:15 to play.

Game Notes

Creighton's win streak matches the longest under coach Greg McDermott ... The Bluejays are the first MVC team to start 17-1 since Drake in 2007-08.