DePaul demands 40 minutes of defense against Detroit Mercy

DePaul regrouped from consecutive losses with Tuesday's rout of visiting Gardner-Webb.

"It was good just to get our confidence back," said Blue Demons guard RJ Smith, "building trust with each other again."

Smith is striving to boost his own mojo as DePaul prepares for Detroit Mercy on Sunday in Chicago, Ill. The Colorado transfer has seen increased minutes since logging 14 in the season opener Nov. 3 and wants to exert his influence accordingly.

"I'm just being patient; I know I haven't had the best few games that I'm capable of," Smith said. "But I'm just relying on my teammates, trusting my coaches, trusting my work ethic, trusting in God that it will all come in place."

Smith dished a season-best four assists while scoring six points against Gardner Webb. While CJ Gunn (18 points) and Layden Blocker (16) led four players in double figures, Smith helped stabilize the floor game for DePaul (3-2).

He added one steal to a 12-steal effort and contributed to a Blue Demons attack that had 29 assists on 36 field goals.

Still, DePaul coach Chris Holtmann offered some areas of improvement for the team against the Titans (1-5) and beyond.

"We've got to figure out how to play offensively in a little more structure when we don't have transition," Holtmann said. "We've got to rebound the ball a lot better. We've got to defend longer -- for longer than 25 minutes of the game."

Detroit Mercy surrendered the first 10 points and lost 84-56 at No. 17 Michigan State on Friday, stretching its losing streak to three games. Orlando Lovejoy (14 points), Ayden Carter (10) and TJ Nadeau (10) each scored in double figures.

Titans coach Mark Montgomery said he thought players were better prepared to face Michigan State than they were Notre Dame in a 102-70 road loss Nov. 7.

"Games like this are going to definitely get us ready," Montgomery said. "We're out to DePaul next and we'll be ready to compete on Sunday."

Detroit Mercy is 24-for-26 from the free-throw line in its past two games after starting the season 56-for-88.

--Field Level Media