DePaul University
Xavier
Blue Demons Drop Road Game at Xavier
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CINCINNATI, Ohio - A tale of two halves saw Xavier defeat DePaul, 89-76, at the Cintas Center on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Demons jumper out to an eight-point halftime lead behind 11 three-pointers before making just two in the second half.
DePaul (11-10, 5-3 BIG EAST) torched the Cintas Center nets in the first half, racking up 50 points while shooting .633 from the field. The Blue Demons went 11-for-19 (.579) from three-point range and 8-for-11 (.727) from inside the arc.
The Blue Demons led by as many as 13 points midway through the opening frame and tallied 15 assists on the 19 field goals.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half before Xavier reeled off nine straight points with Trevon Bluiett's three-pointer from the corner gave the Musketeers a 55-54 lead with 16 minutes left in the game.
Xavier (13-7, 4-4 BIG EAST) steadily increased its advantage and took a 10-point lead with just over four minutes left. A three-point play by Rashuan Stimage brought DePaul to within seven with 2:46 left but the Blue Demons could no closer.
Tommy Hamilton IV led four players in double-figures with 15 points off the bench. He knocked down 3-of-4 three-point attempts while grabbing four rebounds. Aaron Simpson added 14, Myke Henry scored 13 and Darrick Wood added 11 off the bench.
After shooting .633 from the field in the first half, the Blue Demons made just 9-of-30 (.300) attempts in the second half.
Xavier was led by 25 points from Myles Davis and 21 from Bluiett.
DePaul plays at Providence on Tuesday night to conclude the three-game road trip. Start time for the Blue Demons and Friars at the Dunkin' Donuts Center is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and WSCR 670 AM.
Postgame Notes: DePaul's 50 points in the first half marked the first 50-point half since scoring 50 in the second half against Oregon State on Dec. 1, 2013... the 13 three-pointers are a season high and seventh game this season with 10 or more three's... DePaul is 5-2 this season when making 10 or more three's at least four players reached double-figures for the 12th time this season... Jamee Crockett played in his 99th career game... DePaul leads the series, 9-6... the Musketeers have not lost a game at the Cintas Center this season.
