Bensley Joseph scored 20 points and Bryce Hopkins notched a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double as visiting Providence defeated DePaul 70-63 in overtime on Tuesday in Chicago in the Big East opener for both schools.
DePaul (7-2, 0-1) led by eight with 3:37 remaining in regulation but was unable to sustain momentum, losing its 33rd regular-season conference game in a row.
Jayden Pierre scored 11 points for Providence (7-4, 1-0) while Oswin Erhunmwunse contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
David Skogman scored a game-high 22 points for DePaul while connecting on 6-of-10 3-pointers. Jacob Meyer added 10 points. Skogman grabbed six boards and Conor Enright dished seven assists, matching Joseph for the game high.
Providence outscored DePaul 12-5 in overtime. The Friars shot 44.4 percent from the field for the game compared to 32.8 percent for the Blue Demons.
DePaul didn’t eclipse double figures in the second half until Skogman drilled a trey at the 8:58 mark to bring the hosts within 44-42.
The Blue Demons created distance with a 10-0 run that started with an Enright four-point play, taking a 56-48 lead with 3:37 to go. The Friars didn’t fade, tying the game at 58 on a Pierre trey with 57 seconds left.
Enright and Troy D’Amico missed potential go-ahead 3s for DePaul moments later. Providence was unable to convert on the ensuing possession, with Joseph missing a layup before Hopkins’ attempt at a tip-in at the buzzer was off the mark.
Both teams led by 10 in the first half before reeling in the other. The Friars jumped out early, but the Blue Demons answered with a 25-5 run, fueled by sharp ball movement and clutch shooting from deep.
DePaul led 30-27 at halftime as Providence scored the final seven points before the break.
Skogman led all scorers with 13 points in the first half, including a 3-for-4 effort from deep. Hopkins had 11 for Providence.
The Friars have won six straight on the road in the series.
–Field Level Media
