Blue Demons Edged in First Round of BIG EAST Tournament

Wednesday, March 11

New York, N.Y.

8 p.m.

DePaul University

16-16,8-12Big East

Georgetown

15-17,6-14Big East

Georgetown

DePaul

layden blocker dribbles the ball at Madison Square Garden during the BIG EAST Tournament

Blue Demons Edged in First Round of BIG EAST Tournament

3/12/2026 12:17:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

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

Layden Blocker leads team with 16 points and seven assists

NEW YORK – Despite a 16-point performance by Layden Blocker off the bench, DePaul men's basketball fell Wednesday evening in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden, 63-56.

Blocker knocked down a season-high four three-pointers and recorded seven assists in the game. NJ Benson had his eighth-straight game in double-digit scoring, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds on the night, while freshman Kruz McClure had a strong showing for the Blue Demons with nine points and two steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
DePaul (16-16) opened the game to an early 9-4 lead, thanks to a three-pointer from Blocker. The Blue Demons' defense kept Georgetown's offense quiet, as the Hoyas opened the game 4-of-17 from the floor. DePaul fired off an 8-2 run behind baskets from Blocker and CJ Gunn for a 17-9 lead. Georgetown responded with a run of their own over a four-minute stretch, eventually tying the game at 19 all. Blocker knocked down his third three-pointer of the half to help DePaul hold a 24-21 halftime lead.

Georgetown (15-17) opened the second half with six-straight points for their first lead of the game, 27-24. The Hoyas' lead grew to double digits, 44-34, as the game entered the final eight minutes. Blocker and Benson connected on an alley-oop before McClure had a steal and back-to-back three-pointers, bringing the Blue Demons within a basket, 44-42. Back-to-back field goals for the Hoyas were answered by an RJ Smith three-pointer, however, DePaul couldn't pull any closer.

OF NOTE

With nine made three-pointers, DePaul has 230 on the season, which ranks sixth all-time in program history.
The Blue Demons' defense held Georgetown to the lowest points in a half (21) and lowest field goal percentage in a half (29.0) in program history in the BIG EAT Tournament.
A total of six Blue Demons made their BIG EAST Tournament debuts – Théo Pierre-Justin, Brandon Maclin, Kaleb Banks, Fabián Flores, Smith and McClure.
Blocker's seven assists are tied for the third most all-time by a Blue Demon in the BIG EAST Tournament and were the most since Eli Cain in 2018.