DePaul Returns to Action Saturday Afternoon

CHICAGO – The DePaul men's basketball team returns to action Saturday afternoon as they play host to its second in-state foe, Northern Illinois. The game is slated to tip at 4 p.m. from Wintrust Arena as the Blue Demons look to continue its 5-0 stretch to open the season. The game will be aired on FS2 with Cory Provus and Dickey Simpkins on the call. Matt Rodewald and Dave Corzine will have DePaul's radio broadcast, available on 670 The Score, Sirius XM and the DePaul Blue Demons app.

LAST TIME OUT
DePaul moved to 5-0 earlier this week as they defeated Eastern Illinois, 78-69, Tuesday night. The Blue Demons were led by Jacob Meyer, in his first DePaul start, with 16 points and five rebounds. DePaul drained 15 three-pointers as a team, marking the most for the Blue Demons in a regulation game since March 2, 2006. Seven different DePaul players notched a three-pointer, including Meyer's five and three from David Skogman.

SCOUTING DEPAUL
The Blue Demons have made their mark this season with a three-point focused offense, and by sharing the ball. Isaiah Rivera leads all DePaul scorers with 16.0 points per game, however, seven different Blue Demons are averaging seven or more points per game. As a team, DePaul ranks top-35 in the nation in bench points per game and scoring margin. The Blue Demons are also fifth nationally in three-pointers per game, doing so at a 39.0 percent clip.

DePaul's five wins make Chris Holtmann one of seven head coaches nationally who are leading a new team this year, that remain undefeated. It is the fifth time in his career as a head coach Holtmann has opened the season 5-0.

SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois (2-3) is coming off back-to-back losses to Elon and Bradley. The Huskies have been led on the season by Quentin Jones and James Dent Jr. who are averaging 14.4 and 14.0 points per game, respectively. Both players are in their first year with the program after transferring from Cal Poly and Western Illinois. As a team, the Huskies are averaging 5.2 blocks per game with four different players averaging nearly one per game. Ethan Butler leads the team with nine blocks on the season.

Rashon Burno is in his second season at the helm of the Huskies program, however, he is a familiar face for Blue Demons fans. Burno played for DePaul from 1998-2002, helping the Blue Demons to the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

THE SERIES
DePaul leads the all-time series, 26-7, including a 17-2 record in games played in Chicago. NIU in last seasons meeting in Wintrust Arena, 89-79. The win marked the first win in the series for NIU since 2005. DePaul has won four of the last five in the all-time series.

UP NEXT
DePaul wraps up its November homestand after Thanksgiving with a Nov. 29 matchup against Valparaiso. The game is slated for a 12:30 p.m. tip from Wintrust Arena.

FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Men's Basketball, please visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, following the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

Jacob Meyer

Isaiah Rivera

David Skogman