OMAHA, Neb. -- Maurice Watson Jr. scored 20 points and Creighton took control early and eased to a 72-54 win over Alabama in a first-round game of the NIT on Tuesday night.
Khyri Thomas added 15 points and Geoffrey Groselle had 12 with a career-high 14 rebounds for the Bluejays (19-14).
Valparaiso grabbed a 25-16 lead with a 13-2 run and led 30-19 at the half. A 3-pointer by Thomas 4 1/2 minutes into the second half made it 41-23. Alabama was within 10 with more than five minutes remaining but couldn't get any key stops as the Crusaders shot 53 percent in the second half.