DePaul Battles in BIG EAST Opener Against St. John's

Tuesday, December 16

Queens, NY

6 p.m.

DePaul University

8-4,0-1Big East

St. John's

7-3,1-0Big East

DePaul

St. John's (NY)

DePaul Battles in BIG EAST Opener Against St. John's

12/16/2025 8:34:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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

Kaleb Banks posts first double-double of the season

QUEENS, N.Y. – DePaul men's basketball fell in a battle to #22 St. John's Tuesday night at Carnesecca Arena, 79-66. Kaleb Banks had a standout game with his first double-double of the season, posting yearly bests with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

A total of four Blue Demons registered 10 or more points, including CJ Gunn who had his fourth-straight game in double-digit scoring with 15. RJ Smith recorded a season-high 13 points followed by 11 from NJ Benson. Layden Blocker tied a personal-best seven assists without a turnover, helping run the Blue Demons offense in addition to three steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
With the game tied early at 10, St. John's (7-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) pulled away to a 28-19 advantage off a strong series that included three-pointers by Dylan Darling and Ruben Prey. The Johnnies held a nine-point advantage going into halftime despite nine first half points from Banks.

DePaul (8-4, 0-1 BIG EAST) opened the second half with scoring by Gunn, but St. John's responded with five-straight points. The Red Storm expanded its lead with a three-pointer, however, the Blue Demons still had a response. DePaul fired off eight-straight points, including back-to-back layups from Blocker, to pull within seven, 49-42. St. John's used 14 second-half free throws to eventually put away the game.

OF NOTE

DePaul held St. John's to its fewest second-chance points of the season.
Smith tied a career-high three made three-pointers on his way to his 12th career game in double-digit scoring.
Blocker recorded his 30th-straight game with an assist and tied a personal-best three steals against a conference opponent.
Gunn also tied a season-high with three steals.
DePaul recorded its 1,000^th-straight game with a made three-pointer.

UP NEXT
DePaul turns its attention to its second-straight ranked opponent in #5 UConn, Sunday, Dec. 21 at Wintrust Arena. The Blue Demons face off against the Huskies at 3:30 p.m. on FS1.