West Virginia Mountaineers Defeat Creighton Bluejays in CBC Tournament Semifinal

Mountaineers' Stifling Defense Propels Them to Victory Over Retiring Coach McDermott's Bluejays

Apr. 4, 2026 at 1:25am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes representing the defensive intensity and competitive energy of the West Virginia-Creighton matchup.West Virginia's stifling defense disrupts Creighton's offense in a cubist-inspired illustration of their CBC Tournament semifinal matchup.Las Vegas Today

The West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the Creighton Bluejays 68-62 in the semifinal of the College Basketball Crown (CBC) Tournament in Las Vegas on Saturday. The Mountaineers, who were picked to finish 11th in the Big 12 but exceeded expectations, used their stifling defense to shut down the Bluejays and earn a spot in the tournament final. Creighton struggled to score, making just over half of their two-point attempts in one of their last 10 games, and were unable to overcome West Virginia's defensive pressure.

Why it matters

This victory is significant for West Virginia, as it marks their first postseason tournament win since 2007. The Mountaineers' defense has been a key to their success this season, ranking 18th nationally in field goal percentage allowed. Meanwhile, this game represents the final chapter for Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, who is retiring after the tournament.

The details

West Virginia's defense was the difference in the game, holding Creighton to just 49% shooting on two-point attempts over the last five games against comparable opponents. The Mountaineers also controlled the boards, taking advantage of Creighton's rebounding struggles, which rank 284th nationally on the offensive glass. West Virginia's Honor Huff also provided a scoring punch, making nearly as many three-pointers (109) as Creighton's leader in two-point field goals (109).

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
  • Creighton head coach Greg McDermott is retiring after this tournament.

The players

Chance Moore

A guard for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Greg McDermott

The retiring head coach of the Creighton Bluejays.

Honor Huff

A key scorer for the West Virginia Mountaineers, having made nearly as many three-pointers (109) as Creighton's leader in two-point field goals (109).

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What they’re saying

“We must play tough defense to win games, and that's exactly what we did today against a tough Creighton team.”

— Chance Moore, West Virginia Mountaineers Guard

What’s next

West Virginia will advance to the CBC Tournament final, where they will look to win their first postseason championship since 2007.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of defense in the postseason, as West Virginia's stifling defense proved to be the difference against Creighton. The Mountaineers' victory also marks the end of an era for Creighton, as head coach Greg McDermott retires after the tournament.