Early Deficit Too Much To Overcome at Xavier

Tuesday, February 25

Cincinnati, Ohio

6:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

14-14,2-13Big East

Xavier

18-10,7-8Big East

DePaul

Xavier

2/25/2020 8:52:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes

Blue Demons drop road game in Cincinnati on Tuesday

CINCINNATI, Ohio – An early lead for Xavier was too much to overcome as DePaul dropped a 78-67 game against the Musketeers on Tuesday. Paul Reed led the Blue Demons with 14 points and 16 rebounds while Romeo Weems added 16 points and six boards.

Xavier knocked down 10 three-pointers in the first half, but DePaul didn't back down and trailed, 44-36, at the break. The game opened with the Musketeers taking a 12-point lead before a 7-0 run pulled DePaul to within 24-19 on a three-pointer by Jalen Coleman-Lands.

Xavier (18-10, 7-8 BIG EAST) led by 13 with 1:29 until intermission and the Blue Demons closed the half with five straight points to trail by eight at the break.

DePaul (14-14, 2-13 BIG EAST) started the second half quickly and cut the deficit to three times in the first five minutes. A dunk by Jaylen Butz pulled the Blue Demons to within 50-47, but Xavier stretched the advantage back out with a 13-1 run.

The Blue Demons could only get as close as eight the rest of the game on a three-pointer by Weems with 4:19 left and Xavier led by as many as 16 in the final minute.

Reed added three assists and three blocked shots to his 17th double-double. Charlie Moore finished with 12 points and Butz totaled 11 points and five rebounds.

Xavier was led by Naji Marshall who finished with a game-high 23 points.

The Blue Demons continue the road swing on Saturday when DePaul travels to Butler. Start time at Hinkle Fieldhouse is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and WIND (560 AM).