DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
0-0,0-0Big East
Loyola Chicago
0-0,0-0Atlantic 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| DePaul | 40 | 32 | 72 |
| Loyola Chicago | 30 | 35 | 65 |
Hot Shooting Helps Lead DePaul to Exhibition Victory
10/18/2026 5:01:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Ade Popoola drains seven three-pointers
CHICAGO — In his first game wearing scarlet and blue, Ade Popoola's hot shooting helped lead DePaul to a 72-65 exhibition victory over Loyola Chicago on Sunday afternoon at Gentile Arena. Popoola was nearly unstoppable with 25 points and seven three-pointers, including a 6-of-8 performance from deep in the first half and a team-high three steals.
Kruz McClure added 13 points, going 9-of-11 from the free throw line, along with four rebounds and three assists. As a team, the Blue Demons tallied 15 assists on 18 made field goals, with five different players recording multiple assists. Noah Meeusen matched McClure's team-high three assists, while Kahmare Holmes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and four rebounds. Magoon Gwath had a team-high six rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams had streaky first halves, with the Blue Demons jumping out to a 20-9 lead. The Ramblers answered with a 12-0 run, including back-to-back three-pointers from Xavier Amos, to briefly take a 21-20 advantage. McClure stopped the Ramblers' run with a steal and feed to Layden Blocker for a fast-break layup. Fabián Flores followed that with an offensive rebound, setting up a three-pointer from Gwath for a 25-21 DePaul lead. Popoola drained back-to-back treys in under a minute as the Blue Demons offense clicked on a 13-2 run and DePaul took a 40-30 advantage into halftime.
Popoola's shooting stayed hot as he opened the second half with his seventh three-pointer of the game. Loyola turned DePaul turnovers into a 10-0 run to pull within 44-42. Flores sparked the DePaul offense with a pair of free throws, followed by Holmes' first three-pointer of the day. After a Loyola timeout, Holmes hit another triple for a 52-43 lead. Popoola's second steal helped fuel a 10-0 DePaul run as the Blue Demons held Loyola scoreless for nearly five minutes, building a 56-43 advantage. Leading 66-52, DePaul withstood an 11-2 Loyola run over the final three minutes that cut the margin to 68-63. Meeusen kept his composure, knocking down four free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
UP NEXT
DePaul will host Notre Dame as the program's final exhibition before opening the 2026-27 season. The matchup is set for Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. from Wintrust Arena. The Blue Demons open their regular season Monday, Nov. 2 against West Georgia.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Men's Basketball, please visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, following the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook.
TICKET INFORMATION
Join Blue Demon Nation for BIG EAST hoops at Wintrust Arena! Full season tickets for the 2026-27 season are on sale now, starting at just $275 per seat for men's basketball. Full season tickets include the same seat for every home game, plus special discounts for DePaul faculty, staff, retirees and recent graduates. Visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets to lock in your seats today.
