DePaul Edges Creighton in Tight Big East Matchup

Blue Demons secure crucial conference win with late layup

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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DePaul defeated Creighton 72-71 in a closely contested Big East matchup on Wednesday night in Omaha, Nebraska. Brandon Maclin scored 21 points for the Blue Demons, and NJ Benson's go-ahead layup with 32 seconds remaining proved to be the decisive play in the back-and-forth affair.

Why it matters

This win is significant for DePaul, as it brings their record to 15-13 overall and 7-10 in the Big East Conference, providing a much-needed boost as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. The game also highlighted DePaul's ability to compete with top teams in the conference and their resilience in overcoming a first-half deficit.

The details

DePaul shot 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range, while Creighton struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on only 10 of their 25 three-point attempts. The Blue Demons controlled the paint, outscoring Creighton 32-26 in points in the paint and generating 10 second-chance points.

  • The game was played on Wednesday night, February 26, 2026.
  • DePaul previously defeated Detroit Mercy 95-75 on November 23, 2025 and Stonehill 72-64 on November 7, 2025, but suffered a loss to UConn 72-60 on January 10, 2026.

The players

Brandon Maclin

A DePaul player who scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line.

NJ Benson

A DePaul player who made the game-winning layup with 32 seconds remaining and contributed 9 rebounds, 8 defensive and 1 offensive.

Josh Dix

A Creighton player who led the team with 15 points.

Jasen Green

A Creighton player who grabbed 9 rebounds, 5 defensive and 4 offensive.

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What’s next

DePaul will aim to build on this momentum as they continue their pursuit of a higher seed in the Big East Tournament, while Creighton will need to regroup and refocus as they strive to improve their conference standing.

The takeaway

DePaul's victory over Creighton marks a turning point for the program, demonstrating their ability to compete with top teams in the Big East and showcasing their resilience, balanced scoring attack, and solid defensive effort.