Blue Demons Come Up Short in Double Overtime at Providence

Sunday, December 27

Providence, R.I.

3:30 P.M. CT

DePaul University

1-1,0-1Big East

Providence

6-3,2-1Big East

OT 1

OT 2

DePaul

Providence

Blue Demons Come Up Short in Double Overtime at Providence

12/27/2020 6:37:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes

Four players score in double figures in BIG EAST opener

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Trailing by as many as nine points early in the second half, DePaul came back and led by as many as four before finally dropping a 95-90 decision in double overtime at Providence. Romeo Weems led the Blue Demons with a career-high 21 to lead four players in double figures.

DePaul (1-1, 0-1 BIG EAST) trailed throughout the first half but didn't let Providence get away as the Blue Demons were down five points at 34-29 at the end of the opening frame. The Friars led 31-23 with just under two minutes left in the first half before the Blue Demons scored six of the half's final nine points.

Providence (6-3, 2-1 BIG EAST) extended its halftime lead to nine early in the second half, but the resilience of a DePaul squad that has faced many obstacles this season showed again as the Blue Demons took the lead midway through the second half.

A short jumper off the glass by Charlie Moore gave the Blue Demons their first lead of the second half at 53-52 with 9:54 left in the game. Following a Providence turnover, Oscar Lopez Jr. found Pauly Paulicap in the lane and he finished with the up-and-under to move the advantage to three points.

Charlie Moore extended the lead to four on a long three-pointer with 7:30 left that made the score 60-56 in favor of the visitors. In a preview of what was to come the rest of the evening, Providence answered and retook the lead on a drive by Jimmy Nichols, Jr. with 4:46 left in the second half.

The end of the second half went back-and-forth with Weems draining a three-pointer from the corner with just under a minute left to put the Blue Demons ahead by a point. Following a Providence miss, Moore was fouled and converted two free throws with 16 seconds left to make the score 74-71 in favor of DePaul.

On the final possession of the second half, Providence's A.J. Reeves sank a three-pointer to knot the score at 74-74 before Moore's bid from half court went off the rim as time expired and the game went to overtime.

The Friars led by three twice in the first overtime period, but DePaul answered both times with Paulicap securing the final basket of the extra frame with 40 seconds left to force a second overtime period.

In the second overtime, Providence outscored DePaul by a 12-7 margin to take the game by the five-point margin. Kobe Elvis gave the Blue Demons a brief lead at 88-87 with a three-pointer from the corner before two free throws by David Duke gave Providence a lead it wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game.

Weems knocked down a career-high five three-pointers in his first career 20-point game and added seven rebounds. Moore totaled 19 points and eight assists while Javon Freeman-Liberty added 13 points and Paulicap finished with 10 and four rebounds.

Duke led all scorers with 24 points while Reeves finished with 22 points for the Friars.

Up next for the Blue Demons is a game at Connecticut on Wednesday night. Start time in Storrs is set for 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and WSCR (670 AM).