DePaul vs. Providence: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2016 Regular Season

The 11th-ranked Providence Friars may be one of the scariest teams in the Big East, but the unranked DePaul Blue Demons did't let their inferior status stand in the way of a signature win during an otherwise down year. 

Thanks to a second-half surge, DePaul cranked out a 77-70 upset of Providence Tuesday night at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, to capture its most prolific win over a ranked team since 2006 when the Blue Demons beat No. 5 Kansas, according to ESPN Stats & Info. 

However, the ranked win wasn't the first of the Blue Demons' season. Back on Dec. 22, DePaul thrashed No. 20 George Washington, 82-61, behind arguably its most efficient offensive display of the season. 

With that blueprint in mind, DePaul was able to burn past Providence thanks to 27 points (12-of-18 shooting) and 11 rebounds from forward Mike Henry along with 16 points from guard Billy Garrett Jr. 

As a team, the Blue Demons knocked down 49.2 percent of their field goals, including 33.3 percent from three. On the flip side, Providence hit just 39.3 percent of its shots, but converted 40.9 percent of its triples. 

After entering the halftime locker room tied 38, DePaul steadily built its lead up to as many as eight points with just under 13 minutes to go in regulation. And while the Friars successfully chipped away at times, the Demons were able to keep their ranked challengers at arm's reach throughout the second half. 

Providence was also incapable of breaking through because Kris Dunn had an uncharacteristically inefficient night, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

The Friars didn't receive any help in the medical department, either. Big man Ben Bentil went down with an apparent ankle injury, according to Fox Sports' Reid Forgrave, and the severity of the ailment has yet to be confirmed. 

ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman pointed to the Friars' lack of playmaking as a reason for their demise Tuesday night: 

SportingNews.com's Ryan Fagan was among those perplexed by Providence's track record to date:

The Friars have now lost two of their last three games since downing Villanova in an overtime thriller on Jan. 24. Although a loss to Xavier was hardly anything to be ashamed about, losing to one of the Big East's worst teams this late in the season is a cause for concern. 

However, Providence will have a chance to ease some nerves soon.

The Friars are slated to host No. 3 Villanova at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence on Saturday, and a season-series sweep of the Wildcats would look rather nice on their resume with March fast approaching. 

A shot at redemption against No. 6 Xavier also awaits before Providence is set to get a second crack at DePaul, but the Friars need to be careful. If Bentil misses significant time, Providence could be due for a slide down the conference standings before the NCAA Tournament arrives. 

Should the Friars continue to regress, they'll be on the upset alert when bracket-busting time rolls around. 

Postgame Reaction

DePaul head coach Dave Leitao offered his thoughts on the win, courtesy of YouTube user Geno Green: 

Elsewhere, Forgrave provided several updates on Bentil's status: 

"This wasn’t an upset today," Providence head coach Ed Cooley said, per Sports Illustrated's Brian Hamilton. "They outplayed us. Just because we have a number beside our name, it’s an upset?"