Blocker Scores 25 in Saturday Loss to Butler

Saturday, February 22

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

DePaul University

11-17,2-15Big East

Butler

13-14,6-10Big East

Butler

DePaul

2/22/2025 10:32:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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CHICAGO – After clawing back from a double-digit deficit to take a lead, DePaul men's basketball wasn't able to finish against Butler, Saturday evening from Wintrust Arena. The Bulldogs won 84-72.

Layden Blocker tallied up a career-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including a career-best 4-of-6 performance from three. Isaiah Rivera notched his second career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while also tying a personal-best six assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Butler (13-14, 6-10 BIG EAST) opened the game shooting 7-of-9 from three-point range to take a 37-21 lead 12 minutes into the game. After a slow offensive start, DePaul's (11-17, 2-15 BIG EAST) scoring clicked into place with an 11-0 run that included eight-straight points from Layden Blocker with two three-pointers. The Blue Demons pulled within six to close out the half while holding Butler scoreless for the last three minutes.

DePaul's shooting stayed hot coming out of halftime as the team shot 5-of-8 with a pair of triples to quickly close Butler's lead to a one-possession game, 47-44. After the Bulldogs built back a nine-point lead, 60-51, DePaul had several lock down defensive possessions with a steal and block to make it a one-point game. A three-pointer from Rivera followed by a Blocker layup gave DePaul its first lead of the game, 64-63. It would be a back-and-forth affair with six lead changes until Butler had an 11-0 run to build a lead as the clock ran out for DePaul.

OF NOTE

JJ Traynor and Rivera both had 11 rebounds for DePaul, marking the first time DePaul had two players with double-digit rebounds since Jan. 11, 2022.
Traynor's 11 rebounds marked a career-high.
DePaul's four turnovers marked the fewest in a game since March 5, 2022.
The Blue Demons seven blocks are their most in a conference game this season.
Rivera and D'Amico both had season-high two blocks.

UP NEXT
DePaul faces its final road tests of the season, back-to-back beginning with a midweek matchup against Creighton on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. tip on Peacock.