Blue Demons Force Deciding Game Three in CBI Finals with OT Victory Over USF

Wednesday, April 3

McGrath-Phillips Arena

7:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

18-16

100

USF

23-13

OT 1

South Fla.

DePaul

100

Blue Demons Force Deciding Game Three in CBI Finals with OT Victory Over USF

4/3/2019 10:54:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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DePaul hits century mark for fourth time this season as Paul Reed compiles 28-point, 16-rebound double-double

CHICAGO – DePaul held off a late surge by USF to force a deciding game three of the CBI finals with a 100-96 overtime win on Wednesday. In front of a raucous crowd at McGrath-Phillips Arena, Paul Reed posted career highs of 28 points and 16 rebounds while Max Strus scored 32 points for the Blue Demons. The finale of the best-of-three series is 6 p.m. on Friday in Lincoln Park.

The two teams traded the lead 13 times as DePaul finished with 44 points in the paint, 24 points off turnovers and 20 fast break points. Rounding out the top scorers for DePaul, Femi Olujobi totaled 14 points and four rebounds while both Flynn Cameron, nine points, and Lyrik Shreiner, seven points, made their presence felt off the bench with clutch baskets in overtime.

USF (23-14) jumped out to a 9-4 lead early in the evening, but the Blue Demons quickly fought back, taking a 12-11 advantage on a Strus three-pointer.

Neither team was able to generate much distance over the first 10 minutes and with 10:25 on the clock, DePaul took its largest lead of the game to that point at 23-18 as Strus connected on his third three of the half. Five minutes later, Strus connected once more from distance to make the score 32-26.

Down the stretch of the first half, back-to-back three-point plays from Olujobi and Reed pushed the DePaul advantage to 41-33 with 2:45 to play before the break. With 1:54 to go Strus hit his sixth three of the opening frame to give the Blue Demons their first double-digit lead of the game, 44-33, as DePaul went into the half leading by a score of 46-35.

Out of the intermission, the Blue Demons quickly extended their lead to 15 points less than two minutes into the second half. USF would stick around and with 9:10 left in the game, the Bulls pulled within two points for the first time since there was 3:50 left in the first half.

Over the final nine minutes of the game DePaul (19-16) would push their lead back to seven points, but USF once again rallied to tie the game at 77-77 with 3:53 to play.

Reed hit a three-pointer to give the Blue Demons a three-point advantage, but the Bulls responded with a three to tie the game with 28 seconds to play. With the clock expiring, DePaul could not get off a final shot as the game went into overtime.

In the extra period, DePaul scored six of the first nine points to move in front 88-85 with 3:16 to play. Less than a minute later it was 90-85 as Reed made two free throws. The Bulls would knock down a three but DePaul had an answer as Cameron and Shreiner each converted on contested layups to push the DePaul lead to six, 94-88, with 1:41 to play. In the final minute, South Florida would threaten, cutting the deficit to three but DePaul would survive, warding off the visitor to get the win.

For the Bulls, Laquincy Rideau led all scorers with 35 points and eight assists while Alexis Yetna finished with a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double.

The Blue Demons return to action on Friday for the season finale as USF and DePaul meet to decide the CBI championship. Start time is 6 p.m at McGrath-Phillips Arena on ESPNU.