Romeo Weems, DePaul (Photo: DePaul Athletics)

The DePaul Blue Demons (2-4) left the Big East conference game to play a matchup with the Valparaiso Crusaders (3-8) at the Wintrust Arena on Saturday afternoon. DePaul got what they hoped for by returning to the profit column with a 77-58 win.

A game outside of the conference, which was announced just two days ago, required quick game preparation. Both teams canceled conference games this week due to COVID-19 problems with their opponents. The blue demons came prepared. Valpo only led once in the game, 21 seconds with a 3-0 lead.

From then on, it was all DePaul on a good day of filming for the Blue Demons. DePaul led 3:24 by up to 30 points before emptying his bench.

The Blue Demons really did their job from outside the arc, shooting 41 percent on 3-pointers and keeping Valpo out of the three-point area at just 20 percent. Five Blue Demons pocketed three balls today – Romeo Weems, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Charlie Moore and Courvoisier McCauley.

Weems led all goal scorers by 20 points on eight for 14 shots and three for six from a distance along with eight rebounds.

“Today was a really good climax for him,” said DePaul coach Dave Leitao of Weems’ performance. “Not just because he scored points, but he was Romeo. He has the potential to be a very elitist defender of many positions. I thought he did that today. He focused on it. He recovered better. He was around the basketball on both ends. He obviously shot the ball pretty well and that’s something he’s very desperate to add to his game. His all-round game was really, really good today. “

Moore contributed 14 points on five for 10 off the floor to go with five assists.

DePaul striker Pauly Paulicap only played 19 minutes but scored 11 points and got nine rebounds.

The action in that game was DePaul guard Javon Freeman-Liberty who faced his former teammates and coaches after leaving Valpo last year.

Freeman-Liberty struggled with the shooting, finishing the race seven points to three for nine points.

The younger brother of Eric Gordon, the star of the Houston Rockets, Eron Gordon led Valpo with 12 points while shooting three for 12 off the field.

DePaul freshman Keon Edwards made his debut in a Blue Demons uniform late in the competition. Edwards, who joined the team in late December, scored his first two college points.

DePaul, on the lookout for his first Big East win, will face the Butler Bulldogs at the Wintrust Arena on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. local time.

Note: WeAreDePaul.com announced a new mid-season signing for the Blue Demons earlier this morning. Read about it in the following story …

2021 striker David Jones signs up with DePaul early

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