Blue Demons Fall on Last Second Free Throw

Saturday, January 4

Wintrust Arena

1:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

12-3,0-2Big East

Providence

9-6,2-0Big East

Providence

DePaul

1/4/2020 4:48:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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Providence escapes Wintrust Arena with one-point win on Saturday

CHICAGO - Paul Reed finished with a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double and Jalen Coleman-Lands added 15 points, but Providence escaped with a 66-65 win as a Friar free throw with 1.1 seconds left on the clock proved the difference on Saturday afternoon at Wintrust Arena.

Charlie Moore finished with 11 points and five rebounds while Devin Gage chipped in with eight points and four rebounds. Nick Ongenda saw a career-high 16 minutes for DePaul as the freshman big man recorded three blocks.

Romeo Weems knocked down a three-pointer early in the action, giving the Blue Demons a 5-2 edge less than three minutes into the contest. Two minutes later, Reed fed Jaylen Butz with a bounce pass that led to a dunk, and then Moore knocked down a three, as a media timeout stopped action with DePaul in front 9-5.

Out of the break, DePaul (12-3, 0-2 BIG EAST) quickly moved in front 11-5 but Providence (9-6, 2-0 BIG EAST) would respond and with 12 minutes left in the first half the Friars knotted the score at 12.

With 3:46 left in the first half, DePaul, who had trailed 27-18 with 6:32 on the clock, tied the game at 27 on a pull up jump shot from Moore, bringing the Blue Demon run to 9-0 over the previous 2:27.

Less than a minute later DePaul took its' first lead since 12:21 in the first half at 29-27 on two Moore free throws before going into the half leading 33-31.

With 11:05 on the clock in the second half, after a back and forth start to the final 20 minutes, the Blue Demons tied the contest at 50 as Gage knocked down a three-pointer.

The Friars would go on a 10-0 run, pulling in front 60-50, however, DePaul had an answer as the Blue Demons used a 6-0 run of their own over the next two minutes to pull within four at 60-56 with 3:57 on the clock.

Providence would go back in front by seven at 63-56 but a three-pointer from Moore cut the deficit to four. Then, with DePaul trailing by six, Gage knocked down his second three of the game to make it 65-62 with 1:21 left in the game.

Down the stretch, DePaul had one more push left in them as Weems took a charge with 32 seconds to play, setting up DePaul with the ball down three points. Then, with 16 seconds left on the clock Jalen Coleman-Lands was fouled on a three-point attempt and connected on the three ensuing free throws to tie the game.

On Providence's final possession, Nate Watson got fouled with 1.1 seconds on the clock, before knocking down one of two free throws to give the visitor's the lead for good.

For Providence, Luwane Pipkins and Maliek White led the Friars with 16 points apiece.

The Blue Demons return to action next Saturday as DePaul travels to St. John's for an Noon ET tip. The game can be seen on FSN (WCIU The U in Chicago) while the game can be heard on WSCR (670 AM).