Creighton 72, S. Illinois 53

2/10/2008 8:28 PM

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -Reserve Booker Woodfox scored 16 of his career-high 20 points in the first half and P'Allen Stinnett added 14 to lead Creighton to a 72-53 victory over Southern Illinois on Sunday night.

Creighton (17-6, 8-5) won for the first time in 11 regular-season meetings with the Salukis (12-12, 7-6). It was Creighton's first win over Southern Illinois at home since moving into the Qwest Center in 2003. The Salukis had been 4-0 at the Qwest Center while the rest of the Missouri Valley Conference had gone 4-34.

The Bluejays won their third straight game and took sole possession of third place in the Valley. Southern Illinois lost for the ninth time in 10 true road games after committing a season-high 23 turnovers.

The Bluejays avenged a 48-44 loss in Carbondale, Ill., on Jan. 26.

Kenny Lawson had 11 rebounds to go with his nine points for Creighton.

Bryan Mullins led Southern Illinois with 11 points, but the point guard also committed seven turnovers after entering the game with a 5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Matt Shaw had eight points and 10 rebounds. Randall Falker, coming off back-to-back 20-point games against Northern Iowa and Indiana State, was held to seven points and one rebound.

The Salukis scored the first basket of the game, then Stinnett and Dane Watts hit consecutive 3s as Creighton reeled off 10 straight points to take command.

Nick Bahe's free throws gave Creighton a 20-point lead in the final minute of the first half, and a Lawson layup made it a 24-point game, 63-39, with 8:24 left.