Men's Basketball Cruises to Sixth-Straight Win

Saturday, November 23

Chicago, Ill.

4 p.m.

DePaul University

6-0,0-0Big East

Northern Illinois

2-4,0-0MAC

NIU

DePaul

Chris Riddle, CJ Gunn, and team celebrate on the bench

Men's Basketball Cruises to Sixth-Straight Win

11/23/2024 7:00:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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Blocker scores career-high 21 points

CHICAGO – DePaul men's basketball cruised to its sixth-straight win Saturday afternoon in Wintrust Arena, earning its largest margin of victory in eight years, 98-52, against Northern Illinois. DePaul (6-0) held NIU to just 15 first-half points, the fewest points allowed in the first half for the Blue Demons since Dec. 28, 2002.

After missing the last game, Layden Blocker returned to the lineup for a career-performance which earned him Jay Goedert Memorial MVP Award. Blocker notched 21-points on 8-of-13 shooting and a personal-best eight boards. He was joined in double-digits by Jacob Meyer (14), Conor Enright (13) and CJ Gunn (11). The Blue Demons strong performance on the boards was highlighted by David Skogman's season-high 11 and his personal-best three blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
DePaul (6-0) quickly opened the game on a pair of baskets, including a three-pointer from Blocker to give the Blue Demons an early 5-0 lead. The lead was enough, as the Blue Demons would never trail throughout the entirety of the game. DePaul's defense held Northern Illinois (2-4) to just one field goal in the opening seven minutes, all while the Blue Demon offense shot 12-of-19 to open the game. DePaul went on a 14-1 run to end the half for the teams largest halftime lead since Dec. 17, 2016.

Enright began the second-half with a three, continuing the team's pace from deep. Blocker notched his career-best third triple of the game, extending the lead to 41, 62-21. DePaul's offense continued clicking as Gunn fired off eight-straight points to grow the lead to 76-35 with 10 minutes left to play. DePaul's pace continued, before freshman Chris Riddle capped off the game with a corner three to notch the Blue Demons season-high in points.

OF NOTE

11 of DePaul's 12 players registered a field goal Saturday afternoon.
DePaul's 98 points were the most for the team in a regulation game since Feb. 27, 2022.
Saturday marked the first 20+ scoring game of Blocker's career, and fourth career game with 10+ points.
The Blue Demons 55 team rebounds are the most in a game since Dec. 28, 2008 against Alcorn State.
DePaul held an opponent under 30 percent field goal shooting for the first time since Nov. 6, 2019.
Enright set new season-highs with 13 points and seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
DePaul rounds out its seven-game homestand to open the season next Friday, Nov. 28 as they play host to Valparaiso. The black-out game is set for a 12:30 p.m. tip on FS1.