Jayden Epps scored 33 points, including the tying and game-winning free throws, as Georgetown halted an 11-game losing streak by defeating host DePaul 77-76 in a matchup of Big East Conference cellar dwellers Saturday at Chicago.
Epps drained two free throws with eight seconds left for the game’s final points. Jaden Henley of DePaul drove for a potential game-winning shot but it was off the mark, leaving the Blue Demons’ with a 15-game losing streak.
Epps, who reached the 30-point mark for the sixth time this season, shot 9-for-18 from the field with four 3-pointers and went 11-for-13 on free throws.
Rowan Brumbaugh added 14 points and Dontrez Styles had 12 points for Georgetown (9-18, 2-14 Big East), which squandered a 15-point lead.
The only victory for either team in 2024 came when Georgetown defeated DePaul 68-65 on Jan. 6 in Washington. These teams are guaranteed to finish in the bottom two spots in the Big East.
It was a devastating outcome for DePaul, which fell to 0-9 under interim coach Matt Brady. He replaced fired Tony Stubblefield last month when the Blue Demons held a 3-15 record.
Da’Sean Nelson, Jalen Terry and Elijah Fisher all scored 16 points and Henley posted 14 points for DePaul (3-24, 0-16).
The Hoyas held a 24-14 scoring advantage on free throws, helping overcome 15 turnovers.
The teams were deadlocked at 68-68 at with 4:04 left. Brumbaugh’s basket gave the Hoyas the lead, Epps went 1-for-2 on free throws and Supreme Cook dunked for a 73-69 edge with less than two minutes to play.
But Nelson countered for the Blue Demons with a three-point play and a jumper, putting DePaul up 76-75 with 26 seconds to play.
Georgetown was up by 15 points in the first half and claimed a 41-28 halftime lead, but the Blue Demons stormed into the lead less than five minutes into the second half. After that, it was tight the rest of the way.
–Field Level Media