“It’s nothing significant in either guy,” Holtmann said. “So I would expect that both of those guys will return to play, whether it’s the next game or the, maybe it’s a couple games, I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s a, it’s not a long-term thing for either player.”

“Really good effort by our guys,” Holtmann said. “I thought across the board, really, really good effort a lot of ways. Clean game offensively. Clean game defensively. Really good effort and purpose defensively. Much better, more sustained effort in the first half. Coaches are always gonna poke at things we got to get better at, but I’ll leave that for us to talk about. But some really, some really good things tonight. Good to see guys make shots. Good to see ourselves impose ourselves defensively.”

“It feels great,” Banks said. “These wins, it’s gonna feel great in the moment. I feel great right now, but I’m just now just thinking about shifting my focus towards Wichita State. That’s just gonna be a tough away game, tough challenge for us right before conference play, so winning that game is more important cause it’s give us momentum going into conference play.”

McClure agreed.

The Blue Demons are 12-of-15 from the free-throw line in the half.

DePaul 79 – Morgan State 42 5:54 remaining.

Benson appeared to have hurt his foot or leg and hobbled on the court before being subbed out. He did not go to the locker room and stood by the bench before taking a seat.

The offensive depth continues for DePaul with six players scoring in the half so far, seven made free throws, nine points from three and 10 points in the paint.

The defense is letting up, though. The Bears have scored 18 points in the frame and made five field goals. They are also 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.

The Blue Demons still have their rhythm from the three-point line. They are 3-for-5 from three with made 3-pointers from McClure, Ilija Milijašević and Gunn. 

But DePaul is starting to give up points in the paint. Morgan State has three field goals for six points in the paint.

Blocker gets the steal and takes it up the floor for the slam dunk to get the Blue Demons to 60, and Gunn follows that up with a layup on the next possession.

The Blue Demons have scored 16 points in less than five minutes of play and have forced three Morgan State turnovers.

The Blue Demons forced Morgan State into 13 turnovers and only allowed two field goals. DePaul has also tallied six steals and four blocks.

On the offensive side, the Blue Demons had a well-rounded attack. They found success from the perimeter and the free-throw line, along with inside the paint.

Blocker leads the way with nine points, with Kaleb Banks and Gunn close seconds with eight points. All players who have seen the floor for DePaul have scored.

The Blue Demons are playing how they should against a one-win team.

The Blue Demons have only allowed the Bears to score off of free throws (eight).

The Bears are 0-for-19 from the field. Their leading scorer, Alfred Worrell Jr., is 0-for-8.

3-pointers. Points in the paint. Free throws. The Blue Demons are showing their ability to score from any of these areas.

12 points off of 3-pointers.

Eight points in the paint.

Five made free throws.

Also, seven players have scored for DePaul.

DePaul 25 – Morgan State 4 9:44 remaining in the first half.

Second-chance points for the Bears and free throws – the two potential areas of success early on – have been limited by DePaul.

The Blue Demons are shooting 50% from the three-point line, which is where they have scored half of their 18 points. Smith has made two 3-pointers and Gunn one.

All four of the Bears’ points have come from free throws. The defensive pressure by DePaul is working, but the Blue Demons need to pressure while avoiding foul trouble and giving the Bears too many free throws to get back in this game. DePaul is up to three turnovers.

Offense and defense are both clicking for the Blue Demons early on.

Four of the five players who have seen the court so far have scored, and DePaul has forced Morgan State into two turnovers to go along with their three blocks and one steal.

The Blue Demons are contesting shots, protecting the paint and applying pressure outside. They already have a steal and three blocks. However, second-chance opportunities due to the Bears’ offensive rebounding could be a problem in this game.

Blocker drove and was fouled, knocking down both free throws to put the Blue Demons up 2-0.

The game starts NOW. The Blue Demons look to go 2-0 following their 33-point loss to LSU in the Emerald Coast Classic.

G Layden Blocker

G RJ Smith

G Kruz McClure

F Théo Pierre-Justin

F NJ Benson

McClure replaces Gunn in the starting lineup.

A team official says that Brandon Maclin (right shoulder) and Fabián Flores (undisclosed) will not be available tonight for the Blue Demons.

1. Can Benson build off of the career and season high 26 points he had against Arkansas-Pine Bluff? If he can continue to maintain this dominance in the paint, it will be helpful for the start of conference play. 

2. Can the Blue Demons dominate against a struggling team, or will they play down to their opponent’s level? A large victory is not only crucial for morale, given the tough conference matchups ahead, but it will also signal that the Blue Demons are ready for these upcoming Big East games.

1. Establish offensive momentum early

After the first half against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Blue Demons faced a 37-28 deficit. Benson accounted for all but 12 of the team’s first-half points. DePaul needs to show they can get and extend a lead in the first half against a one-win team to avoid another narrow victory. 

The 48-point second half was a much better outing for the Blue Demons. Benson, CJ Gunn and McClure all scored in double figures for a more rounded offense. The Blue Demons’ offense needs to replicate the second-half outing in both frames tonight. 

2. Protect the paint and contest shots better

The Blue Demons gave Arkansas-Pine Bluff a fair amount of open looks in the paint, which is where the Golden Lions scored half of their 72 points. DePaul needs to avoid giving up open looks in the paint while contesting outside shots better. Arkansas-Pine Bluff knocked down eight 3-pointers to go with their 36 paint points.