In a heated Big East semifinal, Creighton scored a 71-62 win over UConn, but not before a post-game scuffle broke out after Jamiya Neal's late dunk sparked drama, technical fouls, and apologies all around.

The showdown not only seen Creighton advance to the Big East championship game, but it also reignited tensions from the season, as emotions boiled over when UConn's Hassan Diarra confronted Neal post-dunk, warranted technical fouls, and enough apologies exchanged to fill a Hallmark card aisle. With a game-high 19 points, Neal might have scored the biggest slam, but it was the post-game chaos that really took the cake—or at least, the trophy for 'Most Dramatic Exit.'

With just 1.5 seconds left on the clock and the game already decided, Neal roared in for a dunk that could only be described as jubilantly excessive. The score stood at 71-62, but apparently, the mere act of scoring wasn't sufficient to encapsulate the intensity of the Big East rivalry. Instead of a mere celebration, what followed was an uproar that some might call overkill, but we prefer 'entertainment.'

As Neal completed his dunk, UConn's guard Hassan Diarra promptly decided that the moment cried for a sideline confrontation. Perhaps he had a score to settle, or perhaps he simply wanted to make a strong case for casting a shadow over the exuberant dunk. However, his method of approach led directly to a physical altercation—because when in doubt, choose to shove your opponent instead of expressing your feelings verbally.

Both players were hit with technical fouls, an appropriate response considering we were witnessing what might be the only time in history when a two-point basket and a pushing match resulted in equal penalties. Meanwhile, Jayden Ross of UConn became the unfortunate star of a different sort of exit from the game, getting ejected for leaving the bench to join the fray. It seems that Ross wanted to ensure he was part of the excitement, but he quickly discovered that the only thing being promoted was lounge chair etiquette.

In the aftermath, Neal took a step back, reflecting on his actions. He issued a heartfelt apology, claiming that emotions got the better of him in the heat of the moment—most likely the same emotion that drives people to watch 6-hour marathon sports events. 'I apologize for my actions,' Neal said, possibly in an attempt to reach the championship game without getting more than just a technical foul to his name. 'It was just excitement, you know?'.

Diarra, for his part, didn’t seem persuaded by Neal's emotional roller coaster. Instead, he was vocal about feeling that scouting report on etiquette must have skipped over the part where one should not disrespect the game of basketball through an unnecessary flourish. 'That dunk? Purely disrespectful,' he remarked, adding a flair for drama that could rival the best reality TV scenarios through his heated words. Apparently, the unwritten rule about late-game dunking remains quite alive.

In a twist reminiscent of a college football game gone awry, Creighton's head coach, Greg McDermott, and UConn's Dan Hurley exchanged quiet apologies in the post-game chaos. Those exchanges could likely become the basis for a self-help book titled 'How to Survive a Basketball Scuffle.' Both coaches, apparently hoping to cool the water, apparently prefer their players to channel their aggression into shooting percentage rather than shoving each other in a crowded gym.

As the dust settled and the adrenaline waned, Creighton secured their place in the Big East Championship against St. John's, a face-off that will only add more spice to this already exhilarating rivalry. But let’s not forget, no matter the outcome or the punches thrown, big emotions lead to even bigger stories, and this one might just be the highlight reel that sweeps both teams into folklore long after their uniforms have gathered dust.

So what does this all mean? Well, besides an anticipated rematch, the increased tension between Creighton and UConn is a reminder that basketball rivalries can bring more than just elbows to the face; they can pave the way for questionable decisions and overly passionate expressions. Ultimately, one can only wonder if their next meeting will involve any flying fists or simply a return to seasoned sportsmanship. Until then, we await the next chapter—because, after all, nothing brings the drama like a dunk.