DePaul University Athletics
Men's Hoops Continue Diamond Head Classic Against Ohio
12/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
HONOLULU - DePaul continues the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic with a Tuesday game against Ohio. The Blue Demons and Bobcats both dropped their games on Monday with DePaul falling in an 82-68 game to Colorado and Ohio dropping a 77-49 decision to George Washington. The final day of the tournament is Christmas Day with a game against Loyola Marymount or Nebraska.
Tuesday's game will be televised on ESPNU with Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play) and Cory Alexander (analyst) handling the television duties. Live stats can be found on GameTracker at www.depaulbluedemons.com while in-game scoring updates and notes can be followed at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
DePaul stands at 6-5 this season while Ohio enters the game with a 3-5 record. Head coach Oliver Purnell is in his fifth season at DePaul and his 27th as a head coach at the collegiate level. Ohio is led by Saul Phillips who is in his first season leading the Bobcats. Tuesday's game is the ninth meeting between the two programs.
Following the Ohio game, DePaul plays either Loyola Marymount or Nebraska. The game will be televised on either ESPNU or ESPN3.
DePaul in Hawaii: The Blue Demons are making their first appearance in the Diamond Head Classic after playing in the Maui Invitational four times. DePaul competed in the Maui Invitational in 1988, 1992, 1997 and 2006. In the 2006 event, DePaul lost to Kentucky, defeated Chaminade and lost to Purdue.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,413-927 (.604) all-time... the 81-70 win over Florida Atlantic on Dec. 12, 2013 was win No. 1,400 since start of 1923-24 season... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 655 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons are 328-162 (.669) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is 9-1 (.900) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena... in Oliver Purnell's five seasons at DePaul, the Blue Demons are 13-1 against Chicagoland opponents (Chicago State, UIC, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern)... DePaul posted a 3-0 record this season with wins over UIC, Northern Illinois and Chicago State... in the Purnell era, the Blue Demons are 25-4 (4-0 in 2014-15/6-1 in 2013-14) when scoring 80 or more points... DePaul's 2014-15 roster includes nine players from the Chicagoland area.
The Opponent: Ohio stands at 3-5 following a 77-49 loss against George Washington in the first game of the Diamond Head Classic on Monday... the Bobcats have dropped four of their last five games... Maurice Ndour leads four players in double-figures with 14.5 points per game... he also adds a team-high 8.8 rebounds per outing... Javarez Willis addes 14.3 points per outing with team highs of 19 assists and 20 three-pointers... head coach Saul Phillips is in his first season at Ohio... DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell is facing Ohio for the first time.
The Series: Tuesday's match-up would be the ninth all-time meeting between the two programs... DePaul holds a 6-2 advantage in the series... the Blue Demons posted a 63-60 win at Ohio in the last meeting on Dec. 9, 2003.
Against the Mid-American Conference: DePaul is 79-34 all-time against the Mid-American Conference... Northern Illinois is the most common opponent followed by 28 games against Western Michigan... the Blue Demons defeated the Huskies, 78-67, on Dec. 2 at Allstate Arena to improve to 26-6 against Northern Illinois.
It Could Happen: A win snaps a four-game losing streak... Jamee Crockett needs one three-pointer for sole possession of 19th on DePaul's three-point field goal list... he enters the Colorado game tied with Rashon Burno (92 3pt. FG, 1998-02)... Burno is currently an assistant coach at Florida.
Trendy: After going 12-for-24 from the free throw line in the season opener, DePaul is 179-of-236 (.759) in the last 10 games... the Milwaukee game on Dec. 7 featured a team effort of 21-for-23 (.913) that included 11-of-11 from Billy Garrett Jr. and 7-for-7 from Tommy Hamilton IV... the Blue Demons pulled off an almost identical performance against Colorado by combining to go 20-for-22 (.909) from the line... Garrett duplicated the 11-of-11 performance against Colorado at the Diamond Head Classic.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 82-69 loss against Colorado on Dec. 22:
- Tommy Hamilton IV recorded his second double-double of the season and fourth of his career... the 12 rebounds match his career high set last season at Butler on Jan. 9, 2014... it was his sixth career game of 10 ore more rebounds... Hamilton played at least 33 minutes for the ninth time in 11 games this season.
- The Blue Demons dropped a season-high fourth straight game.
- DePaul extended its streak to 655 straight games with a three-pointer.
- Billy Garrett Jr. went 11-for-11 from the free throw line for the second time this season... he also went 11-of-11 against Milwaukee on Dec. 7... Garrett reached double-figures for the ninth time this season and 30th of his career.
-Myke Henry reached double-figures for the 10th time in 11 games this season... three steals matched a career high (third time).
- Colorado has won both meetings between the two programs... Monday was the first meeting since the 1940 NIT... DePaul is 28-31 all-time against the current membership of the Pac-12 Conference and 1-2 this season.
