DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Florida State
DePaul Drops Second Game at Paradise Jam
11/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
ST. THOMAS, USVI - DePaul dropped its second straight game at the Paradise Jam in an 83-67 decision to Florida State on Saturday. With the loss, the Blue Demons face Norfolk State on Monday afternoon in the consolation bracket.
The game started even with the scored squared at 10-10 on a Myke Henry jumper with 12:25 left in the first half. Following that bucket, the Blue Demons went cold scoreless while Florida State slowly built a six-point advantage. Billy Garrett Jr.'s driving layup ended the cold snap three minutes later.
DePaul forced a Seminole turnover and on the ensuing possession, Garrett found Henry in the corner and buried a three to pull the Blue Demons to within a point.
Florida State (3-1) answered with nine straight points and took a double-digit advantage on a jumper by Phil Cofer. Cofer's bucket made the score 27-17 with 5:42 left in the first half and the Seminole lead would stay in double-digits over the remainder of the evening.
After the Seminoles took a 43-26 lead at halftime, DePaul (1-3) scored eight of the game's 10 points to open the second period. Two free throws by Garrett pulled the Blue Demons to within 11 points, but that would be as close as they would get for the rest of the game.
DePaul's Aaron Simpson scored a career-high 20 points to lead DePaul. The senior guard scored 19 of his 20 in the second half while going 5-for-5 from behind the arc. Henry added 15 points while Garrett scored 12.
Dwayne Bacon led Florida State with 19 points and Malik Beasley added 11 with five rebounds.
The Blue Demons play Norfolk State on Monday afternoon in the seventh-place game at 2:30 p.m. AT/12:30 p.m. CT. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Postgame Notes: DePaul extended its streak with a three-pointer to 680 straight games… Aaron Simpson's 20-point game was the first of the season by a DePaul player... Simpson is also the sixth player in school history to make at least five three's in game without a miss... Billy Garrett Jr. passed Dave Corzine (318 FT, 1974-78) for 15th on DePaul's all-time free throw list... Garrett has 320 career free throws... the series with Florida State is tied at 3-3... DePaul is 93-129 all-time against the current configuration of ACC programs.
