After surviving a scare from NCAA Division I newcomer Stonehill, DePaul will aim to maintain its tenacity — and ideally the lead — when Buffalo visits on Tuesday.
A 72-64 win against Stonehill on Friday left the Blue Demons (2-0) repeating, “All’s well that ends well,” or some variation thereof after the team regrouped from squandering a 25-point lead.
“Just like any close game,” DePaul’s Brandon Maclin said. “Don’t flinch.”
Added fellow guard CJ Gunn, “It’s good for us to have these games where we have to take it possession by possession and really learn how to stick together and play as a team down the stretch.”
Gunn sparked the rally, contributing a personal 7-0 run to help DePaul take a 60-55 lead with 4:07 remaining. It was part of a career-best, 28-point effort from Gunn.
NJ Benson has notched 16 points and 10 rebounds in both of the Blue Demons’ games. He added six blocked shots on Friday.
Tuesday marks the third of six straight home games for DePaul to open the season. After his team shot 37.1% from the floor and 60% at the free-throw line against Stonehill, however, Blue Demons coach Chris Holtmann aspired to give players more time at the venue between contests.
“I’ve said it every place I’ve been: The value of practicing in your home arena is tremendous. … Just the sight lines. The familiarity,” Holtmann said. “I’m not putting all our missed shots on that — we’ll make plenty more — but to be able to do that consistently, there is real value in that.”
Buffalo (2-0) will play on the road for the first time this season after defeating Southern Miss and Green Bay last week.
The Bulls are touting their depth and unselfishness in the early season. With Green Bay keying on Ryan Sabol after his 32-point night in the season opener, Derrick Talton Jr. (21 points) and Daniel Freitag (20) formed a one-two punch that defeated the Phoenix.
“I think we’re super versatile from top to bottom,” Freitag said. “I think guys can do a lot, mix it up. I’m very confident with the group we have that we can find a way however it is.
“At the foul line, 3-point line, wherever it needs to be, we can get it done, and I’m confident in that.”
Buffalo is 2-0 in successive seasons for the first time since 2017-18 and 2018-19.
