Creighton’s Jamiya Neal Apologizes for Late Dunk Against UConn in Big East Tournament
In a dramatic turn of events at Madison Square Garden, the Big East tournament semifinal between Creighton and UConn ended with more than just a final score. The game, which saw Creighton triumph over UConn, concluded with a heated skirmish following a controversial dunk by Creighton’s Jamiya Neal.
As the clock wound down, with the second-seeded Bluejays leading 69-62, the game seemed all but over. UConn had missed a shot, and their coach, Dan Hurley, signaled for his team to let the clock run out. However, Neal had other plans. With just 1.5 seconds left on the clock, he sprinted down the left sideline and executed a slam dunk, hanging onto the rim for a pullup. This move, seen by many as unnecessary, sparked a confrontation on the court.
UConn’s guard, Hassan Diarra, took exception to Neal’s actions. In a moment of frustration, Diarra shoved Neal in the chest and appeared to square up with his fists, ready for a confrontation. The tension was palpable as players from both teams rushed onto the court, and whistles blew to restore order. Creighton’s center, Ryan Kalkbrenner, quickly intervened, pushing Neal away to defuse the situation.
Reflecting on the incident, Diarra expressed his disapproval, stating, “I mean, they were already up with seven seconds left. He didn’t want to dribble the ball out. Went in for a fancy dunk. I just felt it was disrespectful to the game of basketball.”
In the aftermath, officials managed to calm the situation swiftly. Both Diarra and Neal were assessed double technical fouls, while UConn’s reserve forward, Jayden Ross, was ejected for leaving the bench during the altercation.
Neal, acknowledging his role in the incident, offered an apology. “I got caught up in the emotions of the game,” he admitted. “Just a lot of emotions going on. So I would like to apologize for that. I respect Coach Hurley and those guys over there. They have a great, great program. … Yeah, I apologize. Just got caught up in the moment, and I shouldn’t have did it.”
Interestingly, the coaches were already approaching each other for the customary post-game handshake when Neal made his controversial move. Creighton’s coach, Greg McDermott, appeared to apologize to Hurley immediately after the dunk and again at the game’s conclusion. However, not all was smooth between the coaching staff, as UConn assistant Luke Murray exchanged some heated words with McDermott. Notably, Luke Murray is the son of actor Bill Murray, who was present in the stands behind the UConn bench.
Despite the drama, the game ended with Creighton securing a 71-62 victory over the third-seeded Huskies. This win propelled them into the championship game against the top-seeded St. John’s, ranked sixth nationally. The Bluejays, however, have a challenging history in the Big East championship games, having gone 0-4 since joining the league in the 2013-14 season.
On the other hand, UConn, the two-time defending NCAA champion, had a successful run in the Big East tournament last year, clinching the title. This year’s outcome, however, was not in their favor, and the incident at the end of the game added a layer of controversy to their exit.
- Creighton advanced to face St. John’s in the title game.
- Neal’s dunk led to a skirmish with UConn’s Diarra.
- Both players received technical fouls, and a UConn player was ejected.
As the dust settles, the focus now shifts to the championship game, where Creighton will aim to break their Big East title drought. Meanwhile, UConn will look to regroup and prepare for the upcoming NCAA tournament, hoping to defend their national championship title.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
