The DePaul Blue Demons secured a thrilling 72-71 victory over the Creighton Bluejays, pulling off a significant upset as the 112th-ranked team took down the 79th-ranked Creighton. This win marked a crucial Q3 victory for DePaul, with NJ Benson leading the charge with 23 points and 10 rebounds. The one-point margin of victory underscored the intense competition between the two teams, with DePaul ultimately emerging on top.
NJ Benson's Double-Double Leads DePaul to Upset Victory
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Creighton taking a 42-40 lead into halftime. However, DePaul rallied in the second half, outscoring Creighton 32-29 to secure the win. The Blue Demons' Brandon Maclin played a key role in the comeback, scoring 17 points and dishing out 5 assists. Meanwhile, Creighton's Austin Swartz led the Bluejays with 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome DePaul's balanced attack. The Blue Demons' Layden Blocker also chipped in with 11 points, helping to seal the 72-71 victory. At one point, Creighton led by as many as 5 points, but DePaul's persistence paid off, as they outscored the Bluejays 12-8 over the final 4 minutes.
NJ Benson was the standout performer for DePaul, posting an impressive double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Brandon Maclin also had a strong game, scoring 17 points and adding 5 assists. For Creighton, Austin Swartz led the way with 15 points, while Josh Dix and Jasen Green each contributed 13 points. Dix also grabbed 5 rebounds, showcasing his all-around skills. The top performers for both teams combined for 81 points, accounting for over 55% of the total scoring in the game. Benson's 23 points marked a season high, and his 10 rebounds tied a career best.
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The box score revealed some interesting trends, with DePaul outrebounding Creighton 35-32. The Blue Demons also shot 45.5% from the field, compared to Creighton's 41.9%. DePaul's bench outscored Creighton's 15-10, providing a crucial boost in the second half. The Blue Demons committed 12 turnovers, but Creighton was unable to capitalize, scoring only 10 points off those mistakes. Meanwhile, DePaul scored 14 points off Creighton's 15 turnovers, highlighting the importance of taking care of the ball. The game saw a total of 143 points, with both teams combining to shoot 43.7% from the field.
The CHD Scout prediction model correctly forecasted a DePaul victory, predicting a 75-72 win by a margin of 3.5 points. While the actual score was slightly lower, the model's prediction of a DePaul win proved accurate. The model's predicted score was off by a total of 5 points, but it correctly identified DePaul as the likely winner. This win marked a significant upset, as DePaul's 112 NET ranking is 33 spots lower than Creighton's 79 ranking. The model's success in predicting this outcome underscores its ability to identify potential upsets and make accurate predictions.
This victory marked a crucial Q3 win for DePaul, improving their resume and potentially boosting their tournament chances. Creighton, on the other hand, suffered a Q2 loss, which could impact their NET ranking and tournament seeding. The Bluejays' current NET ranking of 79 could drop as a result of this loss, while DePaul's ranking of 112 could rise. This game highlighted the importance of quad games in shaping a team's tournament resume, with DePaul's win potentially making a significant difference in their postseason prospects. As the season enters its final stretch, games like this will play a crucial role in determining tournament seeding and selection.
DePaul's next game is scheduled for February 15th against the Marquette Golden Eagles, while Creighton will face the Xavier Musketeers on February 14th. Both games promise to be intense matchups, with real consequences for the teams' tournament chances. DePaul want to build on their momentum from this win, while Creighton will aim to bounce back from the tough loss. With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, every game counts, and these upcoming matchups matters in shaping the tournament landscape.