DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
St. John's
Blue Demons Drop Road Game at St. John's
2/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
QUEENS, N.Y. - DePaul fell behind and had to play catch up all evening in an 80-65 loss at St. John's. Eli Cain scored 25 points to lead the Blue Demons and Billy Garrett Jr. added 14 with five rebounds and four assists.
DePaul trailed early in the game and took a one-point lead on a layup by Aaron Simpson at 17-16 with just under seven minutes on the clock. St. John's answered with five straight points and took a seven-point advantage into intermission.
The Blue Demons struggled from the field all evening and trailed, 31-24, at halftime. DePaul combined to shoot .346 (9-26) in the first half that included a 0-for-6 showing from three-point range.
DePaul (8-17, 2-11 BIG EAST) scored the first seven points of the second half to tie game less than two minutes into the frame. St. John's responded with a 19-6 run and held a 50-37 lead midway through the second half.
The lead for the Red Storm grew as high as 20 points with six minutes left, but the Blue Demons cut the deficit to 10 on two occasions. A three-pointer by Garrett pulled DePaul to within seven at 66-59 with 1:30 left, but the Blue Demons would get no closer over the remainder of the night.
Cain added four steals and three rebounds to his game-high 25 points. Darrick Wood chipped in with six points, four rebounds and three steals.
St. John's (8-19, 1-13 BIG EAST) was led by 18 points from Durand Johnson and 17 from Federico Mussini.
DePaul returns to Allstate Arena on Saturday afternoon to face Marquette. The Blue Demons and Golden Eagles are scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
POSTGAME NOTES: Eli Cain scored a career-high 25 points... the game was his third 20-point game of the season... St. John's holds a 19-16 advantage in the series... the home team has won the last six games in the series... the two teams meet next Thursday at Allstate Arena.
