DePaul Comes Up Short Against Missouri State

Friday, December 23

Las Vegas, Nev.

7:45 PM

DePaul University

Missouri State

12/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Dec. 23, 2016

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - In a rematch to the day from November, Missouri State topped DePaul, 69-58, in the consolation game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. The Blue Demons won the first matchup at Allstate Arena on Nov. 23, but couldn't duplicate that win in Las Vegas.

For the second straight evening, DePaul struggled from the field as they combined to shoot just .316 (18-57) overall and .174 (4-23) from three-point range.

The Blue Demons found themselves trailing 9-2 before R.J. Curington came off the bench and sparked an 11-0 run. Curington scored six points during the run and his layup gave DePaul a 13-9 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half.

Missouri State returned the favor and finished the half by outscoring DePaul, 20-8, to take a 37-25 lead at halftime.

DePaul (7-6) made another run to start the second half with a Brandon Cyrus jumper pulling the Blue Demons to within six just over three minutes into the period. Missouri State answered and extended the advantage back to double-figures midway through the half.

The Blue Demons put together one final run and cut the deficit to six points once again with just over six minutes left, but the Bears scored eight of the game's next 10 points and led 63-51 with 3:56 left.

Billy Garrett Jr. led DePaul with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals and was named to the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic All-Tournament team. Tre'Darius McCallum added 11 points and seven rebounds and Cyrus chipped in 10 points. Curington finished the game with eight points and six rebounds.

Missouri State (9-4) was led by a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double by Alize Johnson.

DePaul opens BIG EAST action on Wednesday at top-ranked Villanova. Start time at The Pavilion in north suburban Philadelphia is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and WSCR 670 AM.

Postgame Notes

A three-pointer by Tre'Darius McCallum extended DePaul's streak to 720 straight games with a three-pointer.

Billy Garrett Jr. made his 100th career start at DePaul... he also moved into 20th on DePaul's all-time scoring list... Garrett (1,344 points) passed Draelon Burns (1,329 points, 2004-08) and Terence Greene (1,334 points, 1985-89).