DePaul Secures Season Opening Win, In Overtime

Monday, November 4

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

DePaul University

1-0,0-0Big East

Southern Indiana

0-1,0-0OVC

OT 1

Southern Ind.

DePaul

DePaul Secures Season Opening Win, In Overtime

11/4/2024 11:05:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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Chris Holtmann earns first win as DePaul Head Coach

CHICAGO – The DePaul men's basketball team secured its first win of the 2024-25 season Monday night, 80-78, in overtime against Southern Indiana. It marked the first win at DePaul (1-0) for head coach Chris Holtmann on the opening night of college basketball.

Isaiah Rivera led all scorers with 25 points on the day, including 20 first half points. The graduate student shot 10-of-17 from the floor, including five three pointers in addition to five rebounds and two blocks. Rivera was joined in the 20-point club by sophomore Jacob Meyer who had 16 second-half points for a total of 23 in his Blue Demon debut. Meyer had four threes on the night, including the game-tying one to end regulation and force extra time.

David Skogman added 13 points of his own for his sixth career double-double which included 10 rebounds and a perfect 3-of-3 performance at the line.

HOW IT HAPPENED
With a 44-40 lead at halftime, DePaul used a pair of back-to-back three-pointers by Meyer to extend their advantage to seven before taking the largest lead of the night, 61-52, on a hookshot by Traynor. Southern Indiana (0-1) slowly chipped away at DePaul's lead until taking a one-point advantage, 70-69, with just under a minute to go. Southern Indiana made a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining for a three-point lead, before Meyer took it cross court and sunk a three-pointer to force extra time.

The teams traded points back-and-forth in the overtime period, until Layden Blocker came up with a crucial steal setting up a pair of game-clinching free throws made by Meyer.

OF NOTE

DePaul is 1-0 for the 87th time in program history and 1-0 in the series against Southern Indiana.
All nine Blue Demons who played tonight made their DePaul debut.
Rivera is the first DePaul player to score 25 points since Umoja Gibson on Feb. 22, 2023.
Monday's game was also the first time DePaul had two 20-point scorers in a game since Dec. 29, 2022 against Georgetown.
DePaul's 14 three-pointers were the most for the Blue Demons in a season opener since joining the BIG EAST.

UP NEXT
DePaul has a quick turnaround to face Prairie View A&M on Thursday, Nov. 7. The Blue Demons will tip at 7pm on FS1.