Game Two Set for McGrath-Phillips Arena Wednesday Night

Wednesday, April 3

McGrath-Phillips Arena

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

USF

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Game Two Set for McGrath-Phillips Arena Wednesday Night

4/2/2019 10:37:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Ticket Information DePaul Game Notes USF Game Notes Live Video Live Audio Live Stats

DePaul looks to even best-of-three series in CBI finals against USF

CHICAGO – DePaul meets USF in game two of the finals of the Roman College Basketball Invitational on Wednesday night. The CBI features a best-of-three final series that opened with a 63-61 win for USF at Yuengling Center on Monday. Both teams won three games to reach the finals DePaul defeating Central Michigan, Longwood and Coastal Carolina while USF knocked off Stony Brook, Utah Valley and Loyola Marymount.

Start time Wednesday at McGrath-Phillips Arena is set for 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPNU with Roy Philpot (play-by-play) and Tim McCormick (analyst) calling the action. The game can also be seen online at WatchESPN. Live audio streaming will be available on DePaul All-Access with Dave Bernhard (play-by-play) and Dave Corzine (analyst) on the call. In-game updates can be followed on Twitter at @DePaulHoops and live stats are available at depaulbluedemons.com.

USF is 23-13 this season and finished 8-10 in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls enter the game following the 63-61 win against DePaul in game one of the CBI finals. The Blue Demons are 18-16 and went 7-11 in the BIG EAST. 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. USF is led by Brian Gregory who is in his second season leading the Bulls and 15th season overall as a head coach at the collegiate level.

CBI Setup: The Roman College Basketball Invitational is a 16-team postseason tournament that is hosted at on-campus facilities. In its 12th year, the format consists of eight first round games, four quarterfinal matchups and two semifinals before a best-of-three series between the two final teams.

Following the quarterfinal round, the bracket was reorganized for the semifinals that were played on Wednesday and Thursday. DePaul and USF play in a best-of-three series on April 1, 3 and if necessary, 5 to decide the tournament champion.

McGrath in March: DePaul is 15-3 all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena with this Wednesday's contest as the fourth game in Lincoln Park since December 2016. Prior to Wintrust Arena opening for the 2017-18 season, DePaul would play select non-conference games on campus.

DePaul also hosted a first round NIT game at McGrath-Phillips Arena with an 83-71 win over Hofstra on March 14, 2007.

Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 63-61 loss at USF on Monday in game one of the finals of the CBI.

The 63-61 loss drops DePaul to 18-16 this season... USF is now 23-13.
DePaul's 61 points were the lowest this season... fewest in a game since an 82-57 loss at Creighton on Feb. 27, 2018.
The team has scored 2,656 points this season for a new school record... the previous mark was 2,639 by the 1978-79 squad.
Eli Cain moved into ninth place on DePaul's all-time scoring list... he has 1,640 points.
Femi Olujobi reached double figures for the 49th time in his career (23 at DePaul/26 at North Carolina A&T).
Paul Reed grabbed at least 10 rebounds for the 13th time this season... he has 10 or more boards in three of four CBI games... Reed moved into a tie for 10th on the season blocked shots record list... he has 50 blocked shots... three steals match his career high (third time).
Max Strus reached double figures for the 26th straight game... has scored at least 10 points in 56 of 64 games at DePaul... Strus moved into 34th on the scoring chart... he has 1,178 points.
DePaul holds a 15-13 advantage... USF has won nine straight in the series.

It Could Happen: With two three-pointers, the team (230 3FG) moves up to second on the season team three-pointer list... the school record is 248 set in 2014-15... Max Strus needs 43 points to join Mark Aguirre as the only players in program history with 700 points in a season... Aguirre did it twice with 767 points in 1978-79 and 749 in 1979-80... with 22 points, Strus reaches the 1,200-point plateau in two seasons.

Trendy: DePaul has outrebounded the opponent in 25 of 36 games... the Blue Demons are 18-7 in those games and 0-9 when getting outrebounded... only Stanley Brundy has recorded a better season field goal percentage than Femi Olujobi's .610 (155-254) mark this season... in BIG EAST games, Paul Reed went 44-of-48 (.917) at the free throw line.

Long Rangers: The Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 804 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was over 25 years ago on Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the current streak started against Notre Dame on Feb. 21, 1993.

The Opponent – USF Bulls: USF stands at 23-13 overall and finished 8-10 in the American Athletic Conference during the season... the Bulls defeated Stony Brook, 82-79 in overtime, in the CBI first round on March 20... in the quarterfinals on March 25, USF knocked off Utah Valley, 66-57, before a 56-47 win over Loyola Marymount in the semifinals... David Collins leads the team with a scoring average of 15.9 points per game... Laquincy Rideau adds 12.8 points per game while Alexis Yetna averages 12.0 points per game... head coach Brian Gregory is in his second season at USF... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is 3-2 all-time against USF.

The Series: Wednesday is the 29th meeting between the programs... DePaul holds a 15-13 advantage in the series... this week marks the first meetings since an 83-73 win for USF in Tampa on March 3, 2013... DePaul's last win in the series was a 69-61 decision on Feb. 9, 2008... the Bulls have won nine straight over the Blue Demons.