Kansas City, Mo. ? Creighton’s Nate Funk could not believe how open the Missouri Tigers left him at times, allowing him to get off shots.

Neither could Missouri coach Quin Snyder.

Funk scored 21 points, matching his career high, and Johnny Mathies came off the bench to score 18 points as the Bluejays beat the Tigers, 78-54, on Tuesday night in the Guardians Classic semifinals.

“When I did get those open ones, I was a little bit surprised,” Funk said. “I took advantage of them and knocked a couple down.”

Creighton (4-0) will meet Ohio State (4-0) tonight for the tournament championship.

Funk, who led the Bluejays in scoring last season as a sophomore, made eight of 11 field goals, including three of six three-pointers. He also scored 21 points Feb. 1 at Evansville.

Freshman reserve Dane Watts, who is from nearby Warrensburg, Mo., but was not recruited by the Tigers, scored 12 points for Creighton.

Linas Kleiza was the only Tiger in double figures with 12 points, but he missed 11 of his 15 field-goal attempts. Missouri starting guard Jimmy McKinney was held scoreless for the first time in his career.

“We couldn’t make anything,” Kleiza said. “Nothing was going in.”

The Tigers (2-2) shot just 32 percent from the field, missing 34 of 50, while the Bluejays hit 48 percent of their shots.

“This is no time to hang your head and feel sorry for yourself,” Snyder said. “We’re not a very good team right now. We need to play better. This is a bad a loss as me and these guys have been a part of. We need leadership right now from our key players. We’re learning on the run right now.”

Iowa 82, No. 15 Texas 80

Lahaina, Hawaii — Pierre Piercehit a 25-foot jumper with 44 seconds left to give Iowa the lead for good, and the Hawkeyes beat Texas in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational. It was Iowa’s second straight win over a ranked team following a 76-71 victory over No. 12 Louisville in the opening round. Brad Buckman led Texas with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

No. 6 Oklahoma State 90, Arkansas-Little Rock 65

Stillwater, Okla. — When Oklahoma State needs a spark, the Cowboys know just where to turn. John Lucas scored 22 points — including three straight three-pointers to break open a close game — and Oklahoma State pulled away in the second half to beat Arkansas-Little Rock.

Arkansas-Little Rock (1-1) led 33-32 when Brandon Freeman scored the opening basket of the second half, but Oklahoma State (2-0) started to pull away after Daniel Bobik hit a pull-up jumper to break a 35-all tie.

Nebraska 97, Ark.-PB 40

Lincoln, Neb. — Joe McCray scored 23 points in his first game as a Cornhusker, and Marcus Neal Jr. added a career-high 19 points as Nebraska beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Iowa St. 73, Drake 46

Ames, Iowa — Curtis Stinson, playing with his right shoulder heavily wrapped, scored 17 points and had a career-high 12 assists, leading Iowa State.

Texas A&M 67,

Trinity, Texas 48

College Station, Texas — Antoine Wright scored 21 points and had nine rebounds, leading Texas A&M. Joseph Jones scored 11 points, and Dominique Kirk added 10 for the Aggies (2-0).

TCU 83, Texas Tech 68

Fort Worth, Texas — Marcus Shropshire hit a three-pointer falling down to start a game-turning run, and TCU prevailed.

Corey Santee added 20 points, and Nile Murry had 16, scoring 13 points with four three-pointers after halftime for the Horned Frogs (3-0).

Devonne Giles led Texas Tech with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Women

No. 9 Baylor 66,

Mississippi State 49

Starkville, Miss. — Steffanie Blackmon scored 23 points, and Sophia Young added 13 points and 12 rebounds, leading the ninth-ranked Bears.