Creighton-UConn ends with scuffle, but there’s plenty layered beneath players' actions

Michael Cohen

College Football and College Basketball Writer

NEW YORK — The black-and-white details of a late-game fracas in the second Big East Tournament semifinal on Friday night were as follows: Creighton’s Jamiya Neal, who had ripped Connecticut for 19 points, eschewed the sportsmanlike act of draining the clock so he could windmill home a meaningless dunk that pushed the final score to 71-62 in favor of the second-seeded Bluejays. At which point, UConn’s Hassan Diarra, a proud member of the last two national championship teams, shoved Neal in the chest with both hands before momentarily squaring up and clenching his fists — ultimately deciding against any trading of blows. A seemingly heated exchange between Creighton head coach Doug McDermott and UConn assistant Luke Murray unfolded near midcourt, though tempers eventually fizzled. Jaden Ross was ejected for leaving the Huskies’ bench.

“I got caught up in the emotions of the game,” Neal said. “Just a lot of emotions going on. So I would like to apologize for that. I respect Coach [Dan] Hurley and those guys over there. They have a great, great program. Obviously they’re two-time national champs. I apologize. Just got caught up in the moment, and I shouldn’t have done it.”