Greer Pushes Blue Demons past Rhode Island

Box Score

ROSEMONT, Ill. – For the seventh consecutive game Quemont Greer got over 20 points and the Blue Demons needed each of them as they pulled out a tough 60-51 win over Rhode Island on Thursday at the Allstate Arena.

Greer was the only Blue Demon in double figures as he scored 27 points while grabbing 10 rebounds as DePaul improved to 7-3. Rhode Island fell to 2-8.

Before the game, DePaul announced sophomore guard Sammy Mejia is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. The 6-foot-6 Mejia started all nine previous games and was averaging 12.9 points per contest.

“I had a feeling we would come out and be a bit sluggish with the 12-day layoff and missing a starter,” DePaul head coach Dave Leitao said. “I am happy the guys found a win to win and I am proud of Quemont for continuing to play at such a high level.”

Trailing 38-29 with 13:38 left, DePaul went on a 19-4 run to take the lead. Greer's layup put DePaul ahead for good and made the score 43-42 with 6:36 left.

Jamal Nichols' basket extended the DePaul lead to 48-42 with 4:37 remaining.

Rhode Island (2-8) got within 53-51 with 1:31 remaining on Scott Hazelton's two free throws, but Greer converted a 3-point play on the other end to give DePaul a 56-51 lead with 1:03 remaining.

Hazelton scored a career-high 27 points for Rhode Island, including 16 points in the first half, which Rhode Island led 29-24 at the break.

LeVar Seals added nine points for DePaul while Drake Diener, who started at point guard, handed out six assists with no turnovers.

Notes: DePaul also announced that freshman Wesley Green had been excused from tonight’s game due to a family illness in Florida.

DePaul University Athletics

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