NEW YORK (AP) — Doug McDermott scored 32 points and second-seeded and 14th-ranked Creighton advanced to the Big East tournament championship game in its first year in the conference with an 86-78 victory over Xavier on Friday night.
The Bluejays looked to be on their way to an easy semifinal win but Xavier used a 20-6 run to get within 77-72 with 1:23 to play and Creighton was able to seal the game by going 9 for 10 from the free throw line over the final 1:16.
The Bluejays (26-6) will face fourth-seeded Providence in the championship game Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. The Friars (22-11) beat Seton Hall 80-74 in the semifinals.
Ethan Wragge added 17 points, all but two on 3-pointers, and Chatman had 11.
Isaiah Philmore scored 23 points and Semaj Christon added 18 for third-seeded Xavier (21-12).