DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Michigan State
DePaul Falls in PK80 Opener to Michigan State
11/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
PORTLAND, Ore. - A frigid second half from the field allowed No. 4/5 Michigan State to pull away from DePaul in a 73-51 decision at the PK80 Invitational. The Blue Demons face Oregon in the second day of competition on Friday evening.
Michigan State jumped out to a 7-0 lead and held an advantage throughout the first half until a 16-3 run by DePaul gave the Blue Demons a 26-20 lead. Two free throws by Marin Maric with 4:44 left until halftime gave DePaul (1-3) its largest lead of the game.
The Spartans answered with nine straight points to retake the lead before the half finished with free throws by Eli Cain and Tre'Darius McCallum and a buzzer-beater from 22 feet by Cain to knot the score at 31-31 at intermission.
The two sides traded baskets over the first three minutes off the second half before DePaul went seven minutes without a point while Michigan State added 14 points during that stretch. The Blue Demons went just 5-for-23 from the field in the second half and were unable to overcome the cold shooting.
Cain and Max Strus led DePaul with 12 points each while McCallum added 11 points and four rebounds. Cain also grabbed four boards and Strus went 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Michigan State (3-1) was led by 20 points from Matt McQuaid and a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double from Jaren Jackson Jr.
DePaul faces Oregon at 6:30 p.m. PT Friday night in day two of the PK80. The Ducks dropped a 71-63 game on Thursday to Connecticut. Friday's game can be seen on ESPNU and heard on 670 The Score.
Postgame Notes
- Michigan State was DePaul's second top 15-ranked opponent in four games this season... the Blue Demons dropped a 72-58 decision to then-No. 14 Notre Dame on Nov. 11.
- Marin Maric played in his 100th collegiate game... he played in 96 career games at Northern Illinois before transferring to DePaul this season as a graduate student.
- Max Strus has scored in double-figures in all four games... Eli Cain and Tre'Darius McCallum have scored at least 10 in three of four games this season.
- DePaul's .255 (13-51) field goal percentage was the lowest team total since Dec. 6, 2008... the Blue Demons shot .241 (14-58) in a 63-36 loss at Northwestern.
- DePaul leads the series, 7-5... Michigan State has won the last three meetings in 1955, 2003 and on Thursday night... the Blue Demons are 84-80 all-time against the current programs in the Big Ten Conference.
