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The DePaul Blue Demons drop their second straight Big East game, losing as the Cincinnati Bearcats snatched the lead in the last five minutes.
While Oliver Purnell's crew already has eclipsed its conference win total from a year ago, the DePaul Blue Demons are struggling in the Big East again in 2012, as they are off to just a 2-7 start. On Saturday, they'll have a chance to get back in the win column against a Cincinnati Bearcats team that has lost three in a row.
To pull off the upset on the road, the Blue Demons are going to have to pick up the effort at the defensive end. Purnell's press-heavy style has its advantages but tends to be a severe liability in some ways -- DePaul has been a poor defensive rebounding team all season, and opponents have shot 52.6% inside the arc this season. So DePaul's defensive fortunes tend to be tied to the number of turnovers they are able to force, and Cincinnati has been one of the least turnover-prone teams in the Big East.
Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 4, 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: Big East Network
Odds: Cincinnati is favored by 14-1/2
Series History: Cincinnati leads 33-15
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cincinnati blog Down The Drive and Big East Coast Bias. For more from around college hoops, head over to SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.
DePaul Vs. Cincinnati Recap: Blue Demons Lose Early Lead, Fall 66-74 Late
The DePaul Blue Demons (11-11, 2-8) could not get back on the winning tracks on Saturday night, falling 66-74 as the Cincinnati Bearcats (16-7, 6-4) snatched the lead in the final five minutes.
The lead remained hotly contested through the majority of the game, as the Blue Demons entered the half up by two, 38-36 and even held the lead as late as 4:20 remaining in the second half with a score of 64-62. Unfortunately for DePaul, the Bearcats promptly began a 12-point run, finishing the game with a 66-74 final.
The Blue Demons were led on offense by F Cleveland Melvin (18 points) and F Jamee Crockett (17 pts), while both Melvin (13 rebounds) and Crockett (6 reb) dominated the paint as well. Meanwhile, five different Bearcats finished with double-digit points, as G Sean Kilpatrick (16 pts) and G Dion Dixon (16 pts) led the charge.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cincinnati blog Down The Drive and Big East Coast Bias. For more from around college hoops, head over to SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.
Feb 04 11:18p by Bradley Woodrum