Creighton Is Spoiler in Sutton’s Return

Eddie Sutton knew it might be trouble for his Oklahoma State team if he gave in to his heart and scheduled a game with Creighton, where he coached from 1969-74.

In the end, he was right.

Ryan Sears made a three-point shot with 57.7 seconds remaining and Doug Swenson made three of four free throws in the last minute as Creighton rallied to defeat No. 18 Oklahoma State, 66-60, Sunday at Omaha, Neb.

The loss by the Cowboys (6-3) spoiled Sutton’s return to the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

Sutton, the only coach to take four schools to the NCAA tournament, started in Division I at Creighton from 1969-74. He went on to Arkansas and Kentucky before taking the Oklahoma State job.

“I don’t like to play former assistants and I don’t like to play former schools,” Sutton said. “I thought it was something I could do to help their program. I certainly didn’t mean to come back and get beat. I’m a great giver, but not that much.”

It also marked the second upset of the year for the Bluejays (7-2), who defeated Iowa, 75-73, in Iowa City on Nov. 25.

No. 2 Duke 88, North Carolina A&T; 53--With their game against the Aggies sandwiched between exams week and a showdown with No. 3 Kentucky, the Blue Devils (10-1) relied on Elton Brand’s 21 points for their 28th consecutive home victory at Durham, N.C.

Brand also made 13 of 13 free throws and had a career-high five blocked shots for Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who admitted his team was less than spectacular.

“Overall, our kids played pretty hard,” said Krzyzewski. “I think coming off the exam period, it wasn’t like a great performance by us. But overall, it was pretty good.”

Corey Maggette added 16 and Trajan Langdon scored 14 for the Blue Devils, who play Kentucky Tuesday at the Jimmy V Classic in a rematch of last year’s NCAA South Regional final won by the Wildcats, 86-84.

Marque Carrington led North Carolina A&T; (3-6) with 10.

No. 10 Indiana 106, San Francisco 54--Rob Turner scored 18 points and Larry Richardson had a career-high six blocks to lead the Hoosiers to their highest point total of the season in their victory at Bloomington, Ind.

The victory margin was also Indiana’s largest of the season and it was the third consecutive win for the Hoosiers.

Antwaan Randle El, Indiana’s starting quarterback during the football season, saw his first action as a member of the basketball team. The freshman had five points, two rebounds and two assists in five minutes.

“The first thing [Randle El] did when he got out there was get guys together and tell them what to do,” Indiana Coach Bob Knight said. “I’m not sure he knows what to do yet but he was telling them something, which I really liked.”

James Lee and Ali Thomas led the Dons (7-4) with 17 points each.