DePaul University Athletics
Saturday, February 21
7 p.m.
DePaul University
14-13,6-10Big East
68
vs
71
Providence
12-15,5-11Big East
1
2
F
Providence
38
33
71
DePaul
35
33
68
Defensive Effort Falls Short for DePaul Saturday Night
2/21/2026 10:48:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
NJ Benson records third double-double of the season
CHICAGO – A strong defensive effort for DePaul came up short against Providence, 71-68, Saturday evening inside Wintrust Arena. The Blue Demons held Providence to its third-fewest points of the season while forcing a season-high 18 turnovers from the Friars.
NJ Benson continued his strong stretch of play with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Benson shot 7-of-9 from the floor, adding two assists and a pair of steals. Brandon Maclin recorded his fourth-straight game with 10 or more points, finishing with 14 on the night while adding seven rebounds, two assists and a block. CJ Gunn contributed 13 points and RJ Smith added 10 to round out four Blue Demons in double figures. Layden Blocker dished out a team-best four assists and recorded four steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Providence (12-15, 5-11 BIG EAST) took a 16-10 lead in the opening half before Gunn provided a spark off the bench with a pair of baskets. The Friars held a 32-24 advantage with five minutes remaining, but DePaul closed the half on a 14-6 run to cut the deficit to three, 38-35, at the break.
DePaul opened the second half shooting 3-of-4 from the field to take a 46-39 lead. The Friars answered with consecutive field goals to keep the contest within one possession before using a 14-2 run to regain the advantage, 57-51.
With just over nine minutes remaining, the Blue Demons continued to chip away, highlighted by strong defensive possessions from Kruz McClure. Offensive rebounds helped bring DePaul within two, 60-58. Down five with three minutes left, Maclin attacked the paint on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to one, but the Blue Demons were unable to retake the lead in the closing moments.
OF NOTE
UP NEXT
DePaul heads on the road for its next two games – beginning with a Wednesday, Feb. 25 matchup at Creighton. The game tips at 8 p.m. on Peacock.
NJ Benson continued his strong stretch of play with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Benson shot 7-of-9 from the floor, adding two assists and a pair of steals. Brandon Maclin recorded his fourth-straight game with 10 or more points, finishing with 14 on the night while adding seven rebounds, two assists and a block. CJ Gunn contributed 13 points and RJ Smith added 10 to round out four Blue Demons in double figures. Layden Blocker dished out a team-best four assists and recorded four steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Providence (12-15, 5-11 BIG EAST) took a 16-10 lead in the opening half before Gunn provided a spark off the bench with a pair of baskets. The Friars held a 32-24 advantage with five minutes remaining, but DePaul closed the half on a 14-6 run to cut the deficit to three, 38-35, at the break.
DePaul opened the second half shooting 3-of-4 from the field to take a 46-39 lead. The Friars answered with consecutive field goals to keep the contest within one possession before using a 14-2 run to regain the advantage, 57-51.
With just over nine minutes remaining, the Blue Demons continued to chip away, highlighted by strong defensive possessions from Kruz McClure. Offensive rebounds helped bring DePaul within two, 60-58. Down five with three minutes left, Maclin attacked the paint on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to one, but the Blue Demons were unable to retake the lead in the closing moments.
OF NOTE
- Benson is the first DePaul player to have three-straight games shooting over 75 percent from the field (minimum five attempts) since Mac Koshwal in Dec. 2008.
- Blocker recorded four steals, his personal best in conference play.
- The Blue Demons tied a season-low with seven team turnovers.
UP NEXT
DePaul heads on the road for its next two games – beginning with a Wednesday, Feb. 25 matchup at Creighton. The game tips at 8 p.m. on Peacock.
Team Stats
PROV
DePaul
FG%
.510
.385
3FG%
.500
.231
FT%
.619
.500
RB
41
31
TO
18
7
STL
2
8
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
G
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