There was no big preseason exhibition, no persistent mid-major scrapping and clawing and hanging around until the end.

Ryan Kalkbrenner, Steven Ashworth, Jamiya Neal and Pop Isaacs watched the final ten minutes of Sunday’s 96-70 win over Fairleigh Dickinson from the bench, after breaking the game open with a first-half point that carried into the second. No. 15 CU knocked the knights off the horses they rode into the CHI Health Center.

“We ended up getting stops,” Ashworth said. “I think that’s what it came down to.”

Creighton (2-0) and FDU (1-2) were tied at 24 midway through the first half.

The Knights doubled Kalkbrenner – it worked for a while – and they hit the contested shots early and often, leading 10-2 three minutes later to silence the crowd of 16,471.

After the two traded runs, Jo’el Emmanuel sank two free throws to put FDU up 26-24

The Jays posted a 13-0 run behind Neal’s athleticism, Ashworth’s command of the offense and Kalkbrenner’s rim-running dominance. Those stops threw the Knights out of rhythm, led to easy transition looks in transition and led to a struggling offense.

“Although we are not as tall as we have been in the past, we are faster, and that speed shows in transition,” coach Greg McDermott said. “If we can do that, I think you can get into a team relatively quickly. But you have to stop first.”

CU outscored FDU 26-8 in the seven minutes 25 seconds before halftime, and the Jays scored again — 12-0 — after the Knights opened the second half with a three-pointer.

A two-point deficit turned into a 25-point lead in 11 minutes.

“Stops are the most important thing,” said Ashworth, who had 15 points, five rebounds and nine assists. “If we can string a few stops together, it really puts pressure on the other team’s defense to get back into transition and then guard us.”

Creighton’s defense wasn’t perfect, McDermott said, but it was better than Wednesday in a deceptive 13-point win over Texas Rio Grande Valley, when the longtime coach said he was “disappointed” with the Jays’ performance on that end from the floor. .

FDU finished 11 of 34 from the field, including 5 of 16 on 3s. Each of these misses – coupled with a 51-30 lead on the glass – led to CU’s explosive transition attack.

And Neal was a big part of that.

When the Arizona State transfer went to the Jays this summer, he was widely praised as a menacing defender and high-flying slasher. On Sunday he did a little of both.

With 13 points on 6 of 13 shooting and five rebounds, Neal attacked the rim with the ferocity of a lion conquering new territory. His speed and athleticism were too much for the Knights, who rewarded Neal with acrobatic finishes in the lane and emphatic slams.

“I think that’s where I can really thrive,” Neal said. “I like to play in (transition) as much as possible. If I can get into those kinds of situations, I want to.”

It has been an adjustment. Life for Neal, a senior, is admittedly different at Creighton than his three seasons at ASU. Sunday was what he needed — and what the Jays needed from him — after feeling uncomfortable in CU’s system and struggling against UTRGV on opening night.

“I’m just trying to take it day by day and keep getting better,” Neal said. “I’m not going to say it’s been easy, but it’s a work in progress and I’m happy to be here.”

Kalkbrenner continued his stunning start to the season by following up Wednesday’s performance with 49 points and 11 rebounds with 24 of 10 shooting and six boards in 22 minutes.

Neal looked expectedly calmer than Game 1. Ashworth’s command of the offense was evident, considering it was Wednesday. Texas Tech transfer Pop Isaacs – 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-7 from outside – made his debut after missing the opener with a hip tweak.

Five different players, including freshman Jackson McAndrew, scored in double figures.

And Creighton’s defense, which McDermott was disappointed in, put pressure on FDU after the first ten minutes, turning in its best performance of a young season and showing a glimpse of who these Jays can be.

“Definitely a step in the right direction,” McDermott said. “That’s what this time of year is all about, just trying to get a little better as we move day by day.”