Ryan Kalkbrenner begins his 5th season at Creighton by scoring a career-high 49 points

It turns out Big East's three-time defensive player of year can play a little offense, too.

Make that a lot of offense.

Ryan Kalkbrenner turned in performance of young college basketball season Wednesday night, scoring 49 points in . 15 Creighton's 99-86 victory over UT-Rio Grande Valley. He me a school-record 20 field goals on 22 attempts to help Bluejays hang on in ir opener.

“I kind of didn't realize how much I h,” Kalkbrenner said. “We were in a close game. I was thinking about that more. It comes with flow of game.”

When 7-foot-1 center finally exited to a standing ovation, he looked up at scoreboard to see his point total.

His thought? “Pretty good game,” he said.

Kalkbrenner, Big East preseason player of year, also h 11 rebounds and three blocks.

crowd began chanting encourment late in game, imploring him to shoot so he could hit 50-point mark. Kalkbrenner, t kwing he was one point away, decided to pass ball to a guard and let clock run down.

“Having a good first game is awesome," Kalkbrenner said, "but we have thirty-something games left, and hopefully games that mean a lot more.”

As he walked off court and through tunnel after buzzer, fans nearby chanted “MVP! MVP!”

“We kind of went into game with a plan to establish me in post and we went with that," he said. "I kept working and wasn’t really thinking about what happened previous play. I was just trying to make next one.”

Kalkbrenner's 49 points were second-most by a Creighton player. Bob Portman holds record with 51 against UW-Milwaukee in 1967.

It was 15th time a Creighton player h 40 or more points. Six of those games belong to Doug McDermott, school's career scoring leer, a three-time All-American, and 2014 national player of year.

Kalkbrenner is among three players to win Defensive Player of Year award three times in Big East. ors are Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning.

His offensive game has plenty of flair, too. Kalkbrenner scored with his left hand, and right hand, on spin moves — and he even hit a couple of 3-pointers. He was 7 of 8 on free throws and ded two assists.

“He's one of best players to ever play here, and re have been some really good players that have played here,” coach Greg McDermott said. “If you don't have him in this conversation, you're t paying attention.”

Kalkbrenner, who avers 14 points per game for his career, considered leaving Creighton after last season to enter NBA draft. He decided to return to school for a fifth season so he could polish his game.

“This is my 15th year and five are with him,” McDermott said. "It's been a blessing to coach him and watch him. He's as hungry to learn as he was when he walked on campus as a freshman. He approaches film and his work exact same way. He decided to come back because he thought he could make strides and prepare himself for next level. Tonight's a good first step in that direction.”