Blue Demons Defeated By #16 Xavier

Saturday, February 18

Cincinnati, Ohio

3:00 P.M. CT

DePaul University

9-18,3-13Big East

Xavier

20-7,12-4Big East

DePaul

Xavier

2/18/2023 5:19:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Final Box

CINCINNATI – In a Saturday afternoon matchup at the Cintas Center, the DePaul men's basketball team could not slow down No. 16 Xavier as the Musketeers won, 82-68.

DePaul was led in scoring by Umoja Gibson with 17 points which included five three-pointers. Da'Sean Nelson and Javan Johnson also contributed double-digit scoring efforts with 16 and 10, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED
DePaul got off to a slow start missing its first six shots, however, the Blue Demon defense held Xavier to only five points across the first three minutes of the game. With Xavier up, 12-4, at the first media timeout DePaul went on a 9-0 run, including back-to-back three pointers from Gibson and Johnson. Xavier quickly answered however with an 11-1 run that included a trio of three pointers for a 23-14 lead that the Blue Demons could never claw back from.

In the second half, DePaul held Xavier to a 1-of-10 start but couldn't take advantage offensively with several turnovers. Despite outscoring the Musketeers, 41-33, in the second half, the Blue Demons couldn't bring the deficit into single digits. DePaul held Xavier to 35.3 percent shooting and without a three in the second half.

OF NOTE

Xavier remains undefeated at home in conference play.
Nick Ongenda made his first start of the season and finished the day with four blocks.
Ongenda has 112 career blocks which moves him into ninth all-time at DePaul, one away from David Booth in eighth place.
Ongenda also led DePaul in rebounds with eight on the day.
DePaul has had 15 or more assists as a team 11 times this season.
K.T. Raimey remains perfect from the free throw line this season (16-of-16).
Johnson had a team-high four assists.

UP NEXT
DePaul returns home Wednesday, Feb. 22 for a matchup against Butler. The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. CT tip on FS1. Wednesday serves as DePaul's Faculty & Staff Appreciation night. Tickets for upcoming games can be purchased at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets.