Strong First Half Not Enough Against #25 UConn

Wednesday, January 29

Hartford, CT

7 p.m

DePaul University

10-12,1-10Big East

UConn

15-6,7-3Big East

DePaul

UConn

Strong First Half Not Enough Against #25 UConn

1/29/2025 9:15:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score Postgame Notes (PDF)Final Box (PDF)

Blocker leads DePaul with 18 points

HARTFORD, CONN. – Despite a strong first half, DePaul men's basketball wasn't able to hang on against the 25th-ranked UConn Huskies Wednesday night on the road. UConn came away with the 72-61 win.

Layden Blocker had a game-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting that included five rebounds, two assists and a steal. CJ Gunn also added a double-digit scoring effort for the seventh-consecutive game with 14 points Wednesday night. Gunn also added three takeaways and four rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
DePaul (10-12, 1-10 BIG EAST) came out firing as it opened the game to a 10-4 lead, including four points from Conor Enright. That lead continued to grow as CJ Gunn knocked in DePaul's first three of the night to go up eight, 16-8. The Blue Demons controlled the first half shooting 50 percent from the floor and outrebounding the Huskies 20-15.

UConn (15-6, 7-3 BIG EAST) responded out of halftime to an early five-straight points, forcing a quick timeout from DePaul. The Huskies continued to find scoring opportunities as they held DePaul scoreless for nearly four minutes and hit a stretch of 14 unanswered points, taking the team's first lead of the game, 62-50. With three minutes remaining, Enright drained a three-point shot to make it an eight-point game, 66-58. Fouls began to mount for the Blue Demons, ultimately keeping them from coming back to finish the game.

OF NOTE

DePaul used its eighth different starting lineup of the season.
The Blue Demons 37-29 lead was the largest for DePaul at halftime against UConn in the series history between the programs.
Wednesday marked Gunn's 30^th career game with five or more points.
His three steals were his personal best in conference action.

UP NEXT
DePaul returns home for a Sunday evening showdown against Seton Hall on Feb. 2, 2025 at 5 p.m. The game is a part of DePaul's annual Blue Demon Day and fans are encouraged to wear blue.