DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Temple
DePaul Drops Hoophall Game to Temple
12/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
MIAMI - After trailing by as many as 25 points, DePaul's late comeback came up short in a 74-65 loss against Temple. The Blue Demons closed to within five with 30 seconds left behind a 27-7 run, but couldn't complete the comeback against the Owls at the Hoophall Miami Invitational.
The Blue Demons framed each side of the first half with a scoring drought to find themselves trailing, 40-23, at intermission. DePaul missed its first eight shots before Levi Cook grabbed a rebound and scored to make the score 13-3 with 13:48 left in the first half. Cook repeated the rebound and putback on DePaul's next possession to move the Blue Demons within eight before Temple pushed its lead to double-figures over the remainder of the half.
Following a Devin Gage bucket to make the score 33-20, the Blue Demons went without a field goal over the final four minutes of the first half that ended with Temple holding a 40-23 lead at halftime.
DePaul (5-3) found themselves 25 points behind Temple following an Owl basket by Ernest Aflakpui with 9:09 left in the game. A three-pointer by Eli Cain on DePaul's next possession kick-started an impressive run that would end with the Blue Demons down five in the final minute of play.
Cain's three would be DePaul's only three-pointer of the afternoon, but the Blue Demons used a variety of jumpers and two tip-ins by Joe Hanel along with free throws from Cain, Billy Garrett Jr. and Tre'Darius McCallum. McCallum's two free throws made the score 70-65 with 32 seconds left before Temple sealed the win by going 4-for-6 from the free throw and holding the Blue Demons scoreless in the 74-65 final.
Cain finished with 17 points along with seven boards while Garrett totaled 15 points that included an 11-for-12 effort from the free throw line. McCallum added eight points and eight rebounds for the Blue Demons.
Temple (7-3) was led by Obi Enechionyia and Shizz Alston Jr. with 15 points each.
DePaul returns to McGrath-Phillips Arena on Wednesday night to face UIC. The Blue Demons and Flames are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in Lincoln Park on FS1 and WSCR 670 The Score.
Postgame Notes
- Saturday's game was No. 2,400 for DePaul since the start of the 1923-24 season.
- With Eli Cain's three-pointer, DePaul streak extended to 715 straight games with a three-pointer.
- Billy Garrett Jr.'s 11 free throws moved him past David Booth (444 FT, 1988-92) and Brandon Young (449 FT, 2010-14) and into a tie for fourth all-time with Tom Kleinschmidt (453 FT, 1991-95)... Garrett also recorded his 70th career game in double-figures... Garrett also passed Joe Ponsetto (1,256 points, 1974-78) and moved into 25th on DePaul's all-time scoring list.
- Temple leads the series, 4-2... DePaul is 69-83 all-time against the current membership of the American Athletic Conference.
