Providence Friars Edge Creighton Bluejays in Thriller
Friday, January 16, 2026, 6:30 PM ET · Amica Mutual Pavilion
Providence Friars 93, Creighton Bluejays 88, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Creighton Bluejays vs Providence Friars?
Providence Friars beat Creighton Bluejays 93-88 at Amica Mutual Pavilion on January 16, 2026.
Who was favored in Creighton Bluejays vs Providence Friars?
Creighton Bluejays were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -142 (about 59% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling encounter at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, the Providence Friars triumphed over the Creighton Bluejays with a final score of 93-88. This victory marks a significant turnaround for the Friars, who had been struggling recently, having lost their last three games prior to this matchup. With this win, Providence improves their home record to 10-9, while Creighton falls to 11-9 on the season.
The Friars entered the game with a mixed bag of results in their last ten outings, recording a 4-6 record. Their recent form had been concerning, averaging 81.6 points scored and allowing 86.2 points in their last five games. In contrast, the Bluejays had been performing better, boasting a 6-4 record over their last ten games, with a scoring average of 77.8 points and allowing 72.9 points. This disparity in form set the stage for an intriguing clash.
Historically, this matchup has favored the Bluejays, as they had won both previous meetings in the 2025 season, including a decisive 80-69 victory in their last encounter on February 6, 2025. The Friars were looking to break this trend and secure a much-needed win at home.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide any specific details regarding player availability for either team, which can often play a crucial role in the outcome of such tightly contested games.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had the Bluejays favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 161.5. This indicated a belief in a high-scoring affair, reflecting both teams' offensive capabilities. The odds for the home moneyline were +120, while the away team was priced at -142, suggesting that the Bluejays were the expected favorites heading into the game.
The conditions for the game were standard for a mid-January evening, with no unusual weather factors affecting play inside the arena. Fans were treated to a high-paced game, with both teams showcasing their offensive prowess. The Friars managed to score an impressive 93 points, which is a testament to their ability to find the basket despite recent struggles.
As the game progressed, the intensity increased, with key moments defining the outcome. The Friars' ability to convert crucial free throws late in the game proved decisive. Notably, Stefan Vaaks made several key free throws in the closing moments, extending Providence's lead and ultimately sealing the victory. The scoring plays in the second half highlighted the back-and-forth nature of the contest, with both teams exchanging baskets and keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats.
In summary, the Providence Friars' victory over the Creighton Bluejays not only adds a much-needed win to their record but also serves as a confidence booster as they look to build momentum moving forward. The game showcased the competitive spirit of both teams and set the stage for what could be an exciting remainder of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CREI -2.5 | 161.5 o -108 / u -112 | Creighton Bluejays -142 · Providence Friars +120 |
Leaders
- PointsStefan Vaaks24Providence Friars
- AssistsStefan Vaaks7Providence Friars
- ReboundsOswin Erhunmwunse13Providence Friars
- PointsJasen Green26Creighton Bluejays
- AssistsJasen Green4Creighton Bluejays
- ReboundsBlake Harper8Creighton Bluejays
Recent form
Providence Friars
Last 10: 4-6Streak L386.6 scored · 84.8 allowed per game3-3 at home
- L82-88vs Villanova WildcatsJan 13
- L84-97at Xavier MusketeersJan 10
- L98-103vs UConn HuskiesJan 8
- W77-71at St. John's Red StormJan 3
- L67-72vs Seton Hall PiratesDec 19
- L110-113at Butler BulldogsDec 13
- W86-79vs Brown BearsDec 10
- W90-71vs Rhode Island RamsDec 6
- W94-64vs Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsDec 3
- L78-90at Florida GatorsNov 28
Creighton Bluejays
Last 10: 6-4Streak W177.8 scored · 72.9 allowed per game2-2 away
- W86-83vs Georgetown HoyasJan 14
- L73-90vs St. John's Red StormJan 10
- W76-72at Villanova WildcatsJan 8
- L54-56at Seton Hall PiratesJan 4
- W89-85vs Butler BulldogsDec 31
- W92-69vs Utah Tech TrailblazersDec 23
- W84-63vs Marquette Golden EaglesDec 21
- W98-57at Xavier MusketeersDec 17
- L76-83vs Kansas State WildcatsDec 13
- L50-71at Nebraska CornhuskersDec 7
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's | 30-7 | - | 18-2 |
| UConn | 34-6 | 1 | 17-3 |
| Villanova | 24-9 | 3 | 15-5 |
| Seton Hall | 21-12 | 8 | 10-10 |
| Creighton | 16-18 | 9 | 9-11 |
| DePaul | 16-16 | 10 | 8-12 |
| Butler | 16-16 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Providence | 15-18 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Marquette | 12-20 | 11 | 7-13 |
| Georgetown | 16-18 | 12 | 6-14 |
| Xavier | 15-18 | 12 | 6-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Creighton Bluejays | Providence Friars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-66 | 31-69 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 10-30 | 6-25 |
| Three-point % | 33 | 24 |
| Free throws | 24-29 | 25-35 |
| Free throw % | 83 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 46 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 19 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 27 |
| Assists | 15 | 13 |
| Steals | 6 | 7 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 17 |
| Fast-break points | 14 | 18 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 50 |
| Fouls | 23 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 10 | 14 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 43 | 53 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half57-65Stefan Vaaks makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-67Jamier Jones makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-69Oswin Erhunmwunse makes 2-foot dunk (Stefan Vaaks assists)
- 2nd Half57-71Oswin Erhunmwunse makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half60-71Blake Harper makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jasen Green assists)
- 2nd Half62-71Fedor Zugic makes driving layup (Josh Dix assists)
- 2nd Half63-71Josh Dix makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-71Josh Dix makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-74Stefan Vaaks makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot (Nilavan Daniels assists)
- 2nd Half67-74Josh Dix makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half67-75Jamier Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-77Oswin Erhunmwunse makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half70-77Fedor Zugic makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jasen Green assists)
- 2nd Half70-79Oswin Erhunmwunse makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half71-79Jasen Green makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-79Jasen Green makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Blake Harper assists)
- 2nd Half74-79Jasen Green makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half74-80Ryan Mela makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-81Ryan Mela makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-81Fedor Zugic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-81Fedor Zugic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-82Ryan Mela makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-83Ryan Mela makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-83Jasen Green makes layup (Nik Graves assists)
- 2nd Half79-83Nik Graves makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-85Jamier Jones makes driving layup (Stefan Vaaks assists)
- 2nd Half79-86Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-87Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-87Blake Harper makes driving layup
- 2nd Half81-88Corey Floyd Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-89Corey Floyd Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-89Blake Harper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-89Blake Harper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-90Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-91Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half84-91Blake Harper makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half85-91Blake Harper makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half88-91Josh Dix makes 26-foot three point jumper (Fedor Zugic assists)
- 2nd Half88-92Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half88-93Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Providence Friars, below favours Creighton Bluejays.
Venue
- Amica Mutual PavilionProvidence, RI
- Attendance11655
- OfficialsJoe Lindsay, Matt Potter, Tony Henderson
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
Picks for NCAAB
NCAAB rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Providence Friars Edge Creighton Bluejays 79-76Feb 28, 2026