OMAHA, Neb. — National Player of the Year candidate Doug McDermott had 41 points to lead Creighton to its first outright MVC title since 2001 in a 91-79 win over Wichita State on Saturday. The teams had come into the game tied for first.

The Bluejays took the lead for good by ending the first half with a 9-2 run to take a 36-31 margin into the intermission. Wichita State closed to within 2 points early in the second half, but Creighton led by double digits over the final 4-1/2 minutes.

McDermott was perfect in 10 attempts from two-point range, 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and 6-6 from the foul line in reaching the second-highest total of his career, trailing only the 44 he put up at Bradley last season. He also added 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.

With the win, Creighton (24-7, 13-5 MVC) clinched its eighth outright MVC regular-season title in program history, and 15th overall. The victory also clinched the top seed at next week’s MVC Tournament in St. Louis, Mo., where Creighton will play at 12:05 pm on Friday against the winner of Thursday’s night match-up of the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds.

Wichita State (24-7, 12-6 MVC) lost its second straight and will be the No. 2 seed at Arch Madness.