ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — Providence survived a sloppy offensive performance to defeat DePaul 71-68 in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Allstate Arena. The Friars built a narrow halftime lead and held on despite committing 18 turnovers, which DePaul converted into 26 points. Providence offset its mistakes with efficient shooting, hitting 51% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range. Jaylin Sellers led the Friars with 21 points. DePaul’s NJ Benson scored a game-high 19 points, but the Blue Demons shot just 38.5% overall and 23.1% from beyond the arc. A crowd of 5,895 saw Providence improve to 12-15 overall, while DePaul fell to 14-13.

ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Providence Friars navigated a torrent of self-inflicted errors to edge the DePaul Blue Demons 71-68 in a Big East Conference men’s basketball clash on Saturday at Allstate Arena. The contest was a stark contrast in styles. Providence, despite committing a staggering 18 turnovers leading to 26 DePaul points, survived on the strength of efficient shooting and key defensive stops down the stretch. DePaul, conversely, capitalized on those takeaways but was ultimately undone by frigid shooting from beyond the arc and the free-throw line, going 6 for 26 on three-pointers and a crippling 12 for 24 from the charity stripe. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final chaotic minute, with Providence clinging to a tenuous lead. Leading 68-66 with under 30 seconds to play, Providence’s Stefan Vaaks committed a critical turnover, giving DePaul a chance to tie or take the lead. The Blue Demons’ NJ Benson, who led all scorers with 19 points, stole the ball and DePaul called timeout with 25.5 seconds remaining. Out of the timeout, DePaul worked the ball to CJ Gunn, whose three-point attempt from the wing missed. Brandon Maclin secured the offensive rebound but missed a follow-up hook shot. Providence’s Jaylin Sellers grabbed the defensive board and was immediately fouled with 10.1 seconds left. Sellers, however, missed both free throws, keeping DePaul’s hopes alive. The Blue Demons’ Layden Blocker secured the rebound and was fouled on the floor with 8.8 seconds to go. In a brutal twist for the home team, Blocker also missed both free throws. Providence’s Oswin Erhunmwunse grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Erhunmwunse made the first free throw to extend the lead to 69-66 but missed the second. DePaul’s RJ Smith collected the rebound and raced upcourt, where he was fouled by Providence’s Jason Edwards while attempting a three-pointer with 2.2 seconds on the clock. Smith went to the line with a chance to tie but made only two of three free throws, making it 69-68. Providence’s Ryan Mela was then fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass. He calmly sank both free throws with 1.8 seconds left to seal the 71-68 final. DePaul’s desperation heave from beyond half-court was not close. The Friars were carried by a balanced scoring attack. Jaylin Sellers scored 21 points, Jason Edwards added 17 points and six assists, and Stefan Vaaks chipped in 14 points, including four three-pointers. Jamier Jones contributed 11 points. For DePaul, Benson’s 19-point effort was supplemented by 14 points from Brandon Maclin and 13 from CJ Gunn. The Blue Demons won nearly every hustle category, outrebounding Providence 13-9 on the offensive glass and recording eight steals to Providence’s two, but could not overcome their shooting woes. With the win, Providence improved to 12-15 overall. DePaul fell to 14-13. Both teams continue Big East play next week.

ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — A quick rematch with heightened stakes awaits when the DePaul Blue Demons host the Providence Friars in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Allstate Arena. The teams met just two weeks ago on Feb. 7 in Providence, where the Friars (11-15, 4-9 Big East) dominated in a 90-72 victory. DePaul (14-12, 6-7) has since rebounded with two consecutive wins, including a 69-57 road victory at Seton Hall on Wednesday, while Providence has dropped three straight. The February result will be fresh in both teams’ minds. Providence forward Ryan Mela was a key factor in that win, scoring 16 points with eight rebounds. Mela is coming off a strong individual performance in a loss to St. John’s last Saturday, where he logged 37 minutes with 14 points and nine rebounds. His consistency will be crucial for a Friars squad seeking to halt its skid. For DePaul, the focus will be on forward NJ Benson, who was held to 10 points and seven rebounds in the first matchup. Benson has been on a tear since, averaging 22 points over his last two games, including a 21-point effort in the win over Seton Hall. His offensive resurgence has fueled the Blue Demons’ recent push. DePaul currently sits in the middle of the Big East standings and will look to protect its home court to solidify its position. Providence, near the bottom of the conference, is in desperate need of a win to build momentum for the final stretch of the regular season. The Friars have shown they can score in bunches, as evidenced by a 97-87 double-overtime win over Butler earlier this month, but have struggled defensively during their losing streak. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST Saturday. For Providence, it begins a challenging final four-game stretch. For DePaul, it represents an opportunity for revenge and a chance to move above .500 in conference play.