Creightons closing-seconds dunk sets off UConn in fiery Big East Tournament scene

Tempers briefly flared at the end of second-seeded Creighton’s 71-62 victory over No.3 Connecticut Friday night. With 1.8 seconds left and the game decided, Bluejays wing Jamiya Neal went in for a big dunk instead of dribbling the clock out.

Huskies guard Hassan Diarra took umbrage, rushing up to Neal and shoving him in the chest.Diarra then pointed a finger at Neal as the two exchanged words and players got in between the two. The two players were given technical fouls and UConn’s Jayden Ross, who had come off the bench during the near-fracas, was ejected. “I got caught up in the moment of the game.

It was a lot of emotions going on, so I would like to apologize for that,” Neal said.“I respect Coach [Dan] Hurley and those guys over there.” Diarra, a Queens native, added: “I just felt it was disrespectful to the game of basketball.” UConn, who won the Big East Tournament last season, will not get a chance to avenge their two earlier losses to St.

John’s this season.The Red Storm advanced to the championship game earlier in the night with a 79-63 win over fifth-seeded Marquette. Connecticut, who have won the last two nationals championships under coach Dan Hurley, is still expected to earn an NCAA Tournament bid, but will face an uphill climb in its quest for a threepeat. Neal scored 19 points and Jasen Green also had a career-high 19 points for Creighton.

The Bluejays (24-9) advanced to the championship game for the fifth time since joining the Big East, but they have yet to win the title. Solo Ball and Liam McNeeley each had 13 for the Huskies (23-10)....