GAME NOTES: The Creighton Bluejays hit the road for the first of three straight away from home as they battle the Mean Green of North Texas in non- conference action in The Super Pit on Sunday.

Creighton, which will take on Providence on New Year's Eve and then visit Big East foe Georgetown on Jan. 3, will not be back home playing in front of a friendly crowd until Jan. 7 versus DePaul. The team just finished off a three- game homestand in fact, posting a pair of victories, the latest being a 75-60 final versus Texas-Pan American on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Mean Green are hoping to gain some momentum before the end of the calendar year, seeking to win back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month. Last Wednesday, the program dismissed Langston at home in a 78-65 final, snapping what had become a three-game slide.

Creighton leads the all-time series by a count of 5-4, and is 2-0 in games played in Denton.

Against UTPA, the Jays scored the first seven points and never looked back, overcoming 14 turnovers and a mere 7-of-15 shooting at the free-throw line by shooting 50.0 percent from the field and posting a 46-24 rebounding advantage. Austin Chapman tallied 20 points, Toby Hegner 16 and Avery Dingman tallied 11 points, to go along with six rebounds and six assists for the hosts.

Already 7-1 at home this season, but just 1-1 in true road games, the Jays are outscoring opponents by 8.5 ppg as they knock down close to nine 3-pointers per contest. Chatman is responsible for 14.3 ppg and has also handed out 57 assists, against a mere 17 turnovers. Off the bench the program generally gets a lift from Isaiah Zierdien with his 12.3 ppg, thanks in large part to 45.8 percent accuracy out on the perimeter.

North Texas held Langston to just eight field goals in the first half and 39.0 percent shooting from the floor overall a few nights back, as the Mean Green picked up the double-digit win. Jeremy Combs scored a team-best 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field, but just as impressive was the effort put forth by Jordan Williams with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Also generating a double-double was Colin Voss with 10 points and 10 boards.

One of only two players to have started every game for the Mean Green this season, Williams is not only the leading scorer for the program with 14.3 ppg, he is also tops with 23 assists and 17 steals, not to mention being one of the better rebounders on the roster with close to five boards per contest. Combs checks in with 10.3 ppg for a squad that is generating 66.9 ppg, but also holding foes to just 67.1 ppg.

This versus of the Bluejays is not the same one that struck fear into opponents the last few seasons, but still foes like the Mean Green should be on their toes when trying to slow down Creighton.