Last-Second Layup Ends DePaul's 23-Game Skid Against Creighton in Stunning Upset

Brandon Maclin's layup with 7 seconds left lifted DePaul to a 72-71 victory, snapping Creighton's long-standing dominance in the series.

Feb. 12, 2026 at 3:55pm

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Creighton's 23-game winning streak over DePaul came to an end as the Blue Demons pulled off a stunning 72-71 victory on a last-second layup by Brandon Maclin. The loss dented Creighton's long-standing dominance in Chicago, where it had been 12-0 against DePaul since joining the Big East in 2013-14.

Why it matters

This result reshapes the tone of DePaul's season, as the Blue Demons earned a breakthrough win against a conference rival they had struggled to beat for over two decades. For Creighton, the loss snaps one of the longest winning streaks in Big East history and raises questions about the Bluejays' ability to close out tight games down the stretch.

The details

DePaul trailed for much of the first half until a late surge gave them a 42-40 halftime deficit. Creighton built a six-point lead in the second half, but DePaul chipped away and capitalized when Creighton went cold late. Maclin's layup in the final seconds proved to be the decisive blow.

  • Maclin's game-winning layup came with 7 seconds remaining.
  • Creighton had won the previous 23 meetings between the two teams, a streak dating back to 2013-14.

The players

Brandon Maclin

A DePaul player who made the game-winning layup in the final seconds to snap Creighton's 23-game winning streak over the Blue Demons.

NJ Benson

A DePaul senior forward who led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-11 shooting and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Austin Swartz

A Creighton sophomore guard who finished with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including several key three-pointers that gave the Bluejays the lead late.

Josh Dix

A Creighton senior guard who hit three three-pointers and led the team with 5 defensive rebounds.

Nik Graves

Creighton's senior guard who led the team with 8 assists but couldn't prevent the late collapse.

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What’s next

Creighton will look to regroup quickly as they face a tough Valentine's Day matchup against the Villanova Wildcats, who are firmly in the Big East title hunt.

The takeaway

This result highlights DePaul's ability to pull off a stunning upset against a conference rival they had struggled to beat for over two decades, while also raising questions about Creighton's ability to close out tight games down the stretch as the Big East race tightens.