© Provided by Associated PressConnecticut forward Josh Carlton (25) fouls Creighton guard Antwann Jones (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)
STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Christian Bishop scored 19 points and No. 9 Creighton beat UConn 76-74 in overtime Sunday in the Huskies' return to the Big East.
© Provided by Associated PressConnecticut guard James Bouknight (2) pressures Creighton guard Denzel Mahoney (34) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)
Mitch Ballock added 13 points for the Bluejays (6-2, 2-1 Big East), who secured the win with a 9-0 run in the extra period. Marcus Zegarowski had 11 points and eight rebounds.
James Bouknight scored a career-high 40 points for the Huskies (3-1, 0-1), who were playing for the first time in 17 days because of coronavirus-related issues.
This was UConn's first Big East game since a 63-59 win over Providence on March 9, 2013, a span of 2,834 days.
Creighton had to rally late to send the game to OT. Zegarowski, who shot 4 of 14, made a layup with just over 13 seconds left to cut the UConn lead to 66-64. After R.J. Cole missed a pair of foul shots on the other end, Damien Jefferson hit a jumper in the lane to tie the game.
Creighton led by as many as 12 points in the first half and 33-29 at halftime.
Bouknight's 3-pointer from the top of the key gave the Huskies a 36-35 lead early in the second half and the teams went back and forth from there. There were 15 lead changes in the game.
© Provided by Associated PressCreighton guard Marcus Zegarowski (11) drives the ball against Connecticut guard Jalen Gaffney (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)
BIG PICTURE
Creighton: The Bluejays finished 2-0 on their first East Coast trip of the season after a win at St. John's on Thursday. Bishop scored 12 of his points after intermission.
UConn: Bouknight was 13 of 24 from the floor and 9 of 12 from the foul line.
UP NEXT
Creighton: The Bluejays host Xavier on Wednesday.
UConn: The Huskies were scheduled to play at DePaul on Wednesday, but because of a positive coronavirus test in the Blue Demons program last week, the Connecticut Department of Public Health recommended the Huskies not travel to Chicago. It is the sixth game this season UConn has had canceled or postponed. Its next scheduled game is Dec. 30, when the Huskies would host DePaul, but the game in Chicago may be played before that.
© Provided by Associated PressConnecticut guard James Bouknight (2) dribbles against Creighton guards Mitch Ballock (24) and Alex O'Connell (5) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)
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© Provided by Associated PressConnecticut guard R.J. Cole, bottom, and Creighton guard Marcus Zegarowski (11) scramble for the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)