NICEVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a commanding defensive display, the DePaul Blue Demons defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 75-61 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at Raider Arena.

The game, part of an early-season tournament, saw DePaul improve its record to 5-2, while Georgia Tech fell to an identical 5-2 mark.

DePaul’s victory was anchored by a stifling defensive effort that completely neutralized Georgia Tech’s perimeter game. The Yellow Jackets managed to convert just two of their 18 attempts from three-point range, a crippling 11.1 percent shooting performance from beyond the arc. This inefficiency from deep was the primary driver behind Georgia Tech’s offensive struggles, as they posted an offensive rating of just 88.9 points per 100 possessions.

Conversely, DePaul operated with crisp efficiency on offense. The Blue Demons scored 75 points on 66 possessions, equating to an offensive rating of 113.5. While their three-point shooting was not prolific at 7 for 22, they were far more effective inside, shooting 48.2 percent from the floor overall and a stellar 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with Georgia Tech taking a 32-25 lead into the break. The Yellow Jackets’ interior presence, led by Mouhamed Sylla and Peyton Marshall, provided an early advantage. However, the second half belonged entirely to DePaul. The Blue Demons exploded for 50 points after halftime, nearly doubling their first-half output, while their defense clamped down to hold Georgia Tech to just 29 points.

The DePaul offense was ignited by the backcourt duo of Layden Blocker and Brandon Maclin. Blocker, a guard from Little Rock, Arkansas, led all scorers with 18 points and added four assists in 33 minutes of action. His ability to penetrate and finish at the rim, coupled with his work from the free-throw line, kept constant pressure on the Georgia Tech defense.

Maclin, a Jackson, Tennessee native, provided a crucial secondary scoring punch, contributing 16 points, three assists and a block. His back-to-back plays early in the second half, including a three-pointer that extended the DePaul lead, helped fuel the decisive run that put the game out of reach.

DePaul also received significant contributions from its role players. NJ Benson of Mount Vernon, Illinois, was a force on the glass, pulling down nine points and multiple offensive rebounds, including a key tip-in dunk in the second half. Kruz McClure and RJ Smith each added seven and nine points, respectively, providing valuable minutes off the bench.

For Georgia Tech, the offensive woes were widespread. Akai Fleming led the team with 13 points, but needed 26 minutes to accumulate them. Mouhamed Sylla, from Louga, Senegal, was a bright spot in the paint, scoring 10 points and registering a block, while fellow big man Peyton Marshall of Atlanta added eight points and a block. However, the team’s guards combined for an abysmal shooting night from distance, with key players like Kowacie Reeves and Kam Craft unable to find their rhythm.

The game’s momentum shifted irrevocably in the opening minutes of the second half. DePaul emerged from the locker room with heightened defensive intensity, forcing difficult shots and capitalizing on the other end. A 10-2 run, capped by a Blocker layup and free throw, erased the Georgia Tech lead and established a advantage the Blue Demons would not relinquish. As the Yellow Jackets continued to misfire from the outside, DePaul methodically expanded its lead, pushing it to double digits and effectively sealing the outcome with over ten minutes remaining.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat’s ELO system, which had given Georgia Tech a 72.6 percent probability of victory.

Both teams return to action quickly. DePaul faces LSU on Saturday, while Georgia Tech’s next contest is at home against Mississippi State on Wednesday, Dec. 3.