DePaul Drops Road Contest at Xavier

Saturday, February 15

Cincinnati, OH

11 a.m.

DePaul University

11-15,2-13Big East

Xavier

16-10,8-7Big East

DePaul

Xavier

2/15/2025 1:21:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Box Score DePaul Final Box Postgame Notes - Xavier

CINCINNATI – A shorthanded DePaul men's basketball squad dropped a road contest to Xavier, Saturday afternoon, 85-68. The Blue Demons were led with double-digit scoring by CJ Gunn's 16 points and 12 from Layden Blocker. Freshman Théo Pierre-Justin also recorded a career-high eight points and three rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half was a tale of runs, as both teams fired off scoring streaks. Xavier (16-10, 8-7 BIG EAST) opened the game to a 10-0 lead before DePaul hit a stretch of three-straight made field goals including a three-point from David Skogman to pull within 12-8. Gunn kept the DePaul (11-15 2-13 BIG EAST) offense firing, pulling within two, on a layup. After another Musketeer run gave XU a double-digit lead, DePaul hit a stretch of four-straight made three-point attempts to keep the game within eight, 38-30. The Musketeers ended the half on a 7-1 run for its largest lead of the half, 45-31, at the midgame break.

DePaul hit a 7-0 run in the second half, including back-to-back layups by Gunn, to bring Xavier's lead down to 10. The Musketeers answered on a three-pointer by Zach Freemantle that would never let the Blue Demons pull back within single digits.

OF NOTE

David Thomas earned his first DePaul career start.
DePaul's team total for three-pointers reached 243, which ranks as the third most in a single season.
Gunn's extended his personal stretch to 11-straight games with double-digit scoring.
Rivera had a personal-best three assists in BIG EAST play.

UP NEXT
DePaul returns home for a midweek tilt against top-10 St. John's on Wednesday, Feb. 19. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. tip on FS1.