DePaul Wins Fifth-Straight Season Opener

CHICAGO – A career-night for Javan Johnson lead the DePaul men's basketball team to a season opening victory against Loyola (Md.), Monday night at Wintrust Arena. DePaul (1-0) won, 72-66, over the Greyhounds (0-1) in part to Johnson's 24 points and 10 rebounds.

"Over the course of 40 minutes I thought we did some good things at times," head coach Tony Stubblefield said. "I thought our defense intensity was good for the first 20 minutes of the game. We did a good job sharing the basketball, I just didn't think we came out with the same intensity that we needed for that second 20 minutes. We're glad to get the win but we know we've got a lot of things to get better at."

Umoja Gibson and Da'Sean Nelson joined Johnson in double-digit scoring. Gibson tallied 12 points with a career-high six assists. Nelson made his Division 1 debut with 10 points, four rebounds and a block.

HOW IT HAPPENED
DePaul came out strong in the first half to a 12-5 lead, they would never relinquish. The Blue Demons defense held Loyola (Md.) to a five-minute scoring drought late in the first half. DePaul doubled the Greyhounds scoring efforts in the final eight minutes of the period, 18-9, for its largest lead of the game.

Loyola's offense clicked in the second half, recording seven three-pointers on its way to outscoring DePaul and making it a six-point game with eight minutes left. Steady free throw shooting by Umoja Gibson, Jalen Terry and Johnson was enough to secure the victory.

OF NOTE

Monday was Johnson's first career double-double and second career-game of 10 or more rebounds.
DePaul moves to 87-14 all-time in season openers, dating back to 1923.
Newcomers accounted for 46 percent of the Blue Demons scoring efforts.
DePaul dominated fast break points, 22-2, and also won the battle in the paint, 32-20.
Yor Anei and Gibson both tied for a game-best three steals.
Monday was Anei's fifth start at DePaul and 60th in his career.

UP NEXT
DePaul remains home as they host Western Illinois Friday, Nov. 11. The game is slated for a 9 p.m. tip off on FS2 with radio broadcast on The Score. Season tickets and single-game tickets can be purchased at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets.

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Team Stats

Javan Johnson

Umoja Gibson

Da'Sean Nelson

Jalen Terry