ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game that defied the lopsided expectations of the oddsmakers, the DePaul Blue Demons held off a furious second-half rally from the Stonehill Skyhawks to secure a 72-64 victory in a non-conference men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday night at Allstate Arena.

Despite being installed as a 21-point pregame favorite and carrying a 95 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, DePaul found itself in a dogfight for the final ten minutes, unable to fully shake a determined Stonehill squad that outscored the Blue Demons in the second half.

The victory pushes DePaul’s early season record to a perfect 2-0, while Stonehill, competing at the Division I level, evens its record at 1-1.

The game’s narrative was one of two distinct halves. DePaul appeared poised to run away with the contest early, establishing a commanding 37-24 lead by the halftime break. The Blue Demons’ size and athleticism in the frontcourt, particularly from players like Kaleb Banks, a 6-foot-8 forward from Hampton, Georgia, and Théo Pierre-Justin, a 6-foot-10 presence from Coudures, France, created problems for Stonehill in the paint on both ends of the floor.

The backcourt duo of RJ Smith, a 6-foot-3 guard from Chino, California, and Layden Blocker, a 6-foot-2 guard from Little Rock, Arkansas, provided steady ball-handling and defensive pressure that fueled the first-half advantage. Contributions from the bench, including Serbian guard Ilija Milijasevic and Ohio native Kruz McClure, gave DePaul the depth to build a seemingly comfortable 13-point cushion.

However, the second half told a different story. The Skyhawks, demonstrating the resilience that led them to a 100-point offensive explosion in their season-opening win over Thomas, refused to capitulate. They emerged from the locker room with renewed energy, chipping away at the Blue Demons’ lead with a 40-point half, outscoring DePaul by five after the intermission.

Stonehill’s offensive execution improved dramatically, putting pressure on a DePaul defense that had looked stifling in the first twenty minutes. The Skyhawks’ surge turned what looked like a potential blowout into a tense, single-possession game for stretches of the final period, much to the appreciation of the 3,162 fans in attendance.

Yet, for every Stonehill push, DePaul had an answer. Whenever the Skyhawks closed the gap, the Blue Demons would get a critical basket to stem the tide. The interior presence of players like Jeremy Lorenz, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward from Brillion, Wisconsin, and the towering 7-foot-1 Khaman Maker from Juba, South Sudan, provided key rebounds and defensive stops when they were needed most. The backcourt, reinforced by the efforts of Brandon Maclin, a 6-foot-3 guard from Jackson, Tennessee, managed the game effectively down the stretch, making just enough plays to keep Stonehill at bay.

Ultimately, DePaul’s superior talent and first-half buffer proved to be the difference. While Stonehill won the second-half battle, they could not overcome the initial deficit, falling short in their bid for a second straight upset to open the season. The game’s total score of 136 points fell well short of the pregame over/under line of 146, a testament to the defensive stretches from both teams, particularly DePaul’s first-half effort.

The result provides a valuable early-season test for a DePaul team with clear aspirations of climbing the Big East standings. For Stonehill, the performance, especially the second-half fight, serves as a significant confidence booster as they continue their challenging transition to the Division I level, proving they can compete with programs from major conferences.

DePaul will look to maintain its perfect start when it returns to action at home against Buffalo on Tuesday, November 11. The Blue Demons then host in-city rival Northwestern on Friday, November 14, in what promises to be a more charged atmosphere at Allstate Arena.

Stonehill, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround and another tough road test. The Skyhawks travel to face Rhode Island on Tuesday, November 11, before a two-game stretch that includes a trip to Fairfield and a neutral-site game against Loyola Maryland in Fairfield, Connecticut. Their schedule remains daunting, with future road games against power-conference opponents Iowa State and Syracuse looming in December.