Blue Demons Conclude Road Trip at Providence

CHICAGO - DePaul wraps up a three-game road swing over a nine-day span with a Sunday afternoon game at Providence. The Blue Demons split the first two games with a 97-93 win at Seton Hall last Saturday followed by a 79-69 loss at No. 12/11 Marquette on Wednesday. The game at Providence also concludes a five-game stretch with four road games for DePaul. Start time between the Blue Demons and Friars is set for Noon ET.

Sunday's game will be televised on FS1 with Dave O'Brien (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst) handling the television duties. The game can also be seen online at foxsportsgo.com or the FOX Sports Go app. DePaul's radio tandem of Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Dave Corzine (analyst) can be heard on WSCR 670 AM as well as online on DePaul All-Access at www.depaulbluedemons.com. Live stats can also be found at www.depaulbluedemons.com while in-game scoring updates can be followed on Twitter at @DePaulHoops.

Providence is 12-7 overall this season and 2-4 in BIG EAST play. The Friars enter Sunday's contest following a 64-62 win at Xavier on Wednesday. The Blue Demons are 11-7 and 3-4 in the BIG EAST after the loss at Marquette. DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is in his seventh season at DePaul and his fourth since returning to the program after leading the Blue Demons three postseasons in three years from 2002-05. Overall, the 2018-19 campaign is Leitao's 13th as a head coach at the collegiate level. Providence is led by Ed Cooley who is in his eighth season leading the Friars and 13th season overall as a head coach at the collegiate level.

Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 79-69 loss at No. 12/11 Marquette on Jan. 23:

The loss drops DePaul to 11-7 and 3-4 in BIG EAST games… the Blue Demons have won three of their last five games... Marquette improves to 17-3 and 6-1 in league play.
The Blue Demons are 1-1 this season against ranked opponents.
DePaul has outrebounded the opponent in 14 of 18 games this season… the Blue Demons are 11-3 in those games.
The Blue Demons trailed by more than six points at halftime for the first time this season.
Eli Cain started his 110th career game... Cain's three assists moved him into a tie for 14th place all-time.
Devin Gage grabbed a career-high seven rebounds… he reached double figures for the ninth time this season… it was also his third game of the season with four or more steals.
Femi Olujobi recorded his second straight double-double… it was also the 10th of his career (2 at DePaul/8 at North Carolina A&T)
Paul Reed reached double figures for the fifth straight game and 10th time overall this season.
Max Strus scored at least 10 points for the 11th consecutive game... the two three-pointers for Max Strus moved him into a tie for ninth on the three-point field goal chart.
Marquette leads the series, 77-47… Wednesday was the 124th meeting.

It Could Happen: A win evens DePaul's BIG EAST record at 4-4... the four conference wins would match last season's total... Eli Cain needs two three-pointers to move into fifth on DePaul's all-time three-point field goal chart... with six free throws he takes over 20th on the career free throw list... Lyrik Shreiner is playing in his 70th career game (22 at TCU/30 at Cal State Northridge/17 at DePaul).

Trendy: DePaul has outrebounded the opponent in 14 of 18 games... the Blue Demons are 11-3 in those games and 0-4 when getting outrebounded... over the last four games, Femi Olujobi and Paul Reed have combined to average 41.0 points and 19.5 rebounds per game... Jaylen Butz is shooting .642 (43-67) from the field over his last 15 games... prior to his injury, Jalen-Coleman Lands was averaging 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over his last six games... Coleman-Lands has missed the last nine games... over the last six games, Olujobi is averaging 18.2 points per game while shooting .623 (38-61) from the field and .833 (30-36) from the free throw line... over the last five games, Reed is averaging 17.8 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting .563 (36-64) from the field... in the last seven games, Reed is 23-of-25 (.920) at the free throw line... in BIG EAST games only, Reed is the only player ranked in the top nine in scoring (9th), rebounding (2nd) and field goal percentage (8th)... he's also in the top nine in offensive rebounds (t2nd), free throw percentage (3rd), defensive rebounds (4th) and blocked shots (8th).

The Opponent - Providence Friars: Providence is 12-7 overall and 2-4 in BIG EAST action... the Friars have won two of their last three with victories against Seton Hall and Xavier... Alpha Diallo leads the team with 16.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game... Nate Watson adds 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest... head coach Ed Cooley is in his eighth season leading the Friars... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is 3-3 against Providence.

The Series: Wednesday is the 41st all-time meeting between the two programs... the Friars hold a 29-11 advantage in the series... the two sides have split the last six meetings... a year ago, the visting team posted a win... Providence won, 71-64, at Wintrust Arena on Jan. 12... DePaul recorded an 80-63 win at Dunkin' Donuts Center on Feb. 10... in BIG EAST play, the Friars have won 14 of 20 games.

Up Next: Jan. 30 vs. Villanova

The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network and can be heard in Chicago on WIND (560 AM) at 7 p.m.
Villanova - ranked No. 18 in both of this week's national polls - is 15-4 overall this season and 6-0 in BIG EAST games... the Wildcats host Seton Hall on Sunday before traveling to Chicago.
Wednesday's game is the 36th all-time meeting between the two programs... Villanova leads the series, 27-8.
The Wildcats notched a 73-68 come-from-behind win in the first meeting on Jan. 2 at Finneran Pavilion.

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Players Mentioned

Jaylen Butz

Eli Cain

Devin Gage

Femi Olujobi

Paul Reed

Lyrik Shreiner

Max Strus

DePaul University Athletics