Doug McDermott had 25 points and nine rebounds and Creighton used a 19-4 run to break open a close game in the second half in a 79-66 victory over Indiana State Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

The Bluejays (14-1, 3-0) have won eight straight and are off to their best start in Missouri Valley Conference play since 2003-04. The Sycamores (9-5, 2-1) lost for the 14th straight time in Omaha since 1999.

Gregory Echenique had 16 points and nine rebounds to just miss his fourth double-double in eight games. He scored inside to tie it 51-51 with 10 minutes left and gave the Bluejays the lead when he dunked Grant Gibbs' alley-oop pass.

Jake Odum and Manny Arop scored 13 points each and Justin Gant added 12 for the Sycamores, who made just 9-of-18 free throws in the second half.