Friday, November 29
Chicago, Ill.
12:30 p.m.
DePaul University
7-0,0-0Big East
89
vs
70
Valparaiso
4-3,0-0MVC
1
2
F
Valparaiso
29
41
70
DePaul
42
47
89
Rivera's 19 Leads DePaul to 7-0 Start
11/29/2024 3:40:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Blue Demons move to 7-0 for first-time since 2019-20 season
CHICAGO – It was a team-effort for DePaul men's basketball Friday afternoon as nine different Blue Demons appeared in the scoring column. The Blue Demons defeated Valparaiso, 89-70, in Wintrust Arena to move to 7-0 for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
As a team, DePaul (7-0) tallied 12 three-pointers, including three from Isaiah Rivera who tallied a game-high 19 points. Rivera was lights out, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor in addition to four rebounds and a pair of assists. Jacob Meyer and CJ Gunn both contributed 12 points, while Troy D'Amico added another 11. Conor Enright continued his stellar playmaking abilities, tallying eight assists on the night for his fourth game of the season with eight or more.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite Valparaiso (4-3) holding an early 7-5 lead at the first media timeout, Rivera quickly flipped it and gave DePaul the lead off a corner three on an in-bound pass from Enright. The Blue Demons shooting got hot as they fired off a 12-2 run for a 17-9 lead and forcing a Valparaiso timeout. DePaul's defensive efforts held Valpo to a five-minute scoring drought and a stretch where they went 1-of-11 from the floor after opening the game 3-of-5. During the stretch, DePaul built a comfortable, 23-9, advantage on an 18-2 run. The Beacons hit a stretch where they made 4-of-5 from the field, but DePaul maintained a solid double-digit advantage going into halftime.
Valparaiso opened the second half with solid shooting, quickly pulling with 11 of the Blue Demons. D'Amico converted a three-point play after being fouled on a layup, extending the lead to 54-40. A series of six-consecutive made field goals gave DePaul an 18-point advantage before eventually taking the team's first 20-point lead of the night on Gunn's second three-pointer of the game.
OF NOTE
UP NEXT
DePaul will face its first road test of the year as a part of the BIG EAST/Big 12 Challenge. The Blue Demons will take on RV Texas Tech, Dec. 4, in Lubbock, Texas. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. start on ESPNU.
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.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for the 2024-25 men's basketball season start at $195. Secure your seats today at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets and commit to the Chris Holtmann era at Wintrust Arena!
Mobile passes, group outings, suite rentals and single-game tickets are on sale now.
Fans can stay up-to-date on special ticket offers by signing up for email or text updates from DePaul Athletics.
As a team, DePaul (7-0) tallied 12 three-pointers, including three from Isaiah Rivera who tallied a game-high 19 points. Rivera was lights out, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor in addition to four rebounds and a pair of assists. Jacob Meyer and CJ Gunn both contributed 12 points, while Troy D'Amico added another 11. Conor Enright continued his stellar playmaking abilities, tallying eight assists on the night for his fourth game of the season with eight or more.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite Valparaiso (4-3) holding an early 7-5 lead at the first media timeout, Rivera quickly flipped it and gave DePaul the lead off a corner three on an in-bound pass from Enright. The Blue Demons shooting got hot as they fired off a 12-2 run for a 17-9 lead and forcing a Valparaiso timeout. DePaul's defensive efforts held Valpo to a five-minute scoring drought and a stretch where they went 1-of-11 from the floor after opening the game 3-of-5. During the stretch, DePaul built a comfortable, 23-9, advantage on an 18-2 run. The Beacons hit a stretch where they made 4-of-5 from the field, but DePaul maintained a solid double-digit advantage going into halftime.
Valparaiso opened the second half with solid shooting, quickly pulling with 11 of the Blue Demons. D'Amico converted a three-point play after being fouled on a layup, extending the lead to 54-40. A series of six-consecutive made field goals gave DePaul an 18-point advantage before eventually taking the team's first 20-point lead of the night on Gunn's second three-pointer of the game.
OF NOTE
- DePaul has six-straight games this season with 15 or more assists and four-straight games with 10 or more made three-pointers.
- Holtmann becomes the first DePaul coach to open a debut season 7-0 since Ray Meyer in 1942-43.
- Meyer extended his personal-streak of double-digit scoring games to 22-straight, dating back to last season. That stretch is second among active BIG EAST players Eric Dixon from Villanova and Kam Jones from Marquette.
- He also notched a season-best seven rebounds and two steals.
- NJ Benson recorded a season-best two blocks, making it six-straight games with a block.
UP NEXT
DePaul will face its first road test of the year as a part of the BIG EAST/Big 12 Challenge. The Blue Demons will take on RV Texas Tech, Dec. 4, in Lubbock, Texas. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. start on ESPNU.
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.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for the 2024-25 men's basketball season start at $195. Secure your seats today at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets and commit to the Chris Holtmann era at Wintrust Arena!
Mobile passes, group outings, suite rentals and single-game tickets are on sale now.
Fans can stay up-to-date on special ticket offers by signing up for email or text updates from DePaul Athletics.
Team Stats
VALPO
DePaul
FG%
.415
.525
3FG%
.346
.429
FT%
.636
.684
RB
31
41
TO
10
10
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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