GAME NOTES: A couple of teams trying to rebound from a loss hook up at Carnesecca Arena today, as the DePaul Blue Demons tangle with the St. John's Red Storm in Big East play. The Demons kicked off Big East play with a three- game homestand in which they finished 2-1. That lone loss however, came in the final game of the homestand, a 76-60 setback to nationally-ranked Georgetown on Tuesday. With the outcome, DePaul saw its season-high four-game win streak come to a close, as it fell to 6-8 overall. As for SJU, it was also in action on Tuesday, when it was downed at Connecticut, 81-65. It was the third loss in the past four outings by the Red Storm, which dropped to an even 7-7 overall and 1-2 in league play. The team now returns back home, where it has posted six wins against two defeats. In terms of the all-time series, DePaul owns a 13-9 edge over SJU, with the teams splitting a pair of meetings a season ago.

DePaul shot a dismal 32.4 percent from the floor and that includes a poor 4-of-23 shooting from long range, as it suffered a 16-point loss to Georgetown earlier in the week. Mac Koshwal notched a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Demons, while Dar Tucker also finished with 14 points. Draelon Burns, though, was held to just six points on a sub par 2-of-9 shooting from the field. Despite the performance, Burns still leads the team in scoring this season with an average of 17.6 ppg. Tucker is next in line at 12.9 ppg, and Koshwal adds 11.4 ppg and a team-high 8.5 rpg to the mix. Karron Clarke contributes 10.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg for DePaul, which is averaging 74.2 ppg on 43.2 percent shooting from the field this season.

The Red Storm hit on only 34.3 percent of its attempts from the field and it was outscored in the paint, 44-26, in a 16-point setback at UConn on Tuesday. The team also lacked some defense, allowing UConn to shoot a much higher 52.2 percent from the floor. Justin Burrell paced SJU in defeat with 17 points and six rebounds, while Anthony Mason Jr. had 14 points and nine boards. For the season, Burrell tops the roster in scoring at 12.4 ppg and he is also ripping down a solid 7.4 rpg. Mason Jr. follows closely with 12.0 ppg, and Larry Wright is third in order at 10.3 ppg. Eugene Lawrence chips in with 10.0 ppg and he has been responsible for setting up his teammates, dishing out a team- high 4.1 apg. Overall, the Red Storm is producing 67.9 ppg, while knocking down 43.3 percent of its tries from the field.

With the support of its fans and a balanced effort, expect SJU to come out on top in today's bout.