Last-Second Layup Ends DePaul’s 23-Game Skid Against Creighton in Stunning Upset

DePaul flipped the script in Chicago, stunning Creighton with a late-game punch that nobody saw coming. Brandon Maclin’s driving layup with seven seconds left didn’t just seal a 72–71 upset, it snapped a 23‑game losing streak to the Bluejays.

Creighton Bluejays guard Nik Graves (5) walks off the court after the win against the Seton Hall Pirates at CHI Health Center Omaha. / Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

DePaul's Brandon Maclin’s lay‑up with seven seconds remaining proved to be the decisive blow, lifting DePaul to a 72–71 victory and snapping a 23‑game losing streak to Creighton on Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The Bluejays, now 13–12 overall and 7–7 in Big East play, couldn’t close out a game they led late, while the Blue Demons improved to 13–12 and 5–9 in the conference with a breakthrough win that reshaped the tone of their season.

Creighton saw one of its most remarkable streaks come to an abrupt end, as DePaul’s win snapped the Bluejays’ 23‑game run in the series, the longest winning streak Creighton had ever held over any opponent and a mark that also tied the Big East record for most consecutive wins by one conference team over another. The loss also dented Creighton’s long-standing dominance in Chicago, where it had been 12–0 against DePaul since joining the conference in 2013–14 before Wednesday night’s setback.

Creighton spent much of the first half playing from behind until back‑to‑back three‑pointers from freshman guard Hudson Greer and sophomore guard Austin Swartz pushed the Jays ahead 28–26 and forced a DePaul timeout with 6:38 remaining. Despite being dominated 22–2 in paint scoring at that point, Creighton stayed afloat behind hot perimeter shooting (7‑for‑11 from deep) and 15 points off the bench.

DePaul was 1-26 ALL TIME vs Creighton….

WHAT AN EPIC WIN FOR THE BLUE DEMONS (-102 ML) 😤 pic.twitter.com/n6m2NAWQEk

— br_betting (@br_betting) February 12, 2026

The Jays later strung together an 8–0 burst, highlighted by consecutive senior guard Josh Dix triples, to build their largest lead at 42–37 before CJ Gunn drilled a corner three at the buzzer to cut Creighton’s halftime edge to 42–40. Creighton knocked down 10 of 16 threes in the opening half, including a career‑best three from junior forward Jasen Green, but was overwhelmed inside, getting outscored 30–4 in the paint and outrebounded 17–9. Green led the Jays with 11 points at the break, while Dix added eight.

Creighton’s offense hit a wall at the worst possible time, enduring nearly seven minutes without a field goal before Swartz finally broke the drought with a three‑pointer that nudged the Jays back in front, 55–54, with just over nine minutes remaining. Swartz briefly reignited the attack with another deep triple that pushed the lead to 62–57, and Dix added his own punch from the perimeter, drilling his third three of the night to restore a six‑point cushion at 65–59.

Even after Dix made it 71–68 with 2:34 left, Creighton couldn’t generate another basket, leaving the door open for DePaul. The Blue Demons chipped away at the line, grabbed a crucial offensive rebound, and capitalized when Swartz’s late‑clock jumper missed.

After a timeout with 27.2 seconds left, DePaul worked the clock, survived Creighton’s initial stop, and on the final inbound, Maclin squeezed through traffic to bank in the game‑winner.

Senior forward NJ Benson dominated the stat sheet for DePaul, leading all scorers with 23 points on an efficient 10‑for‑11 shooting night while also grabbing a game‑high 10 rebounds. Creighton’s top performer was Swartz, who finished with 15 points on 6‑of‑10 shooting, while Dix paced the Jays on the glass with five defensive boards. In the playmaking department, senior guard Nik Graves led Creighton with eight assists, but DePaul countered with Maclin’s steady floor game, as he handed out five assists and ultimately delivered the decisive bucket in the closing seconds.

Fedor Žugić says a lot of people have written Creighton men’s basketball off.

The Jays (13-11) sit in fourth place of the Big East with seven regular season games to go. pic.twitter.com/m7DKqrHwLT

— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) February 11, 2026

Creighton’s efficiency from deep couldn’t outweigh DePaul’s control of the interior and overall shot-making, as the Blue Demons held the statistical edge in several key areas. DePaul shot 53 percent from the field compared to Creighton’s 47 percent and dominated the glass with a 30–22 rebounding advantage, which helped offset CU’s 14‑for‑27 performance from three-point range.

While Creighton protected the ball slightly better with just 10 turnovers to DePaul’s 12, the Blue Demons spent more time playing from ahead, leading 47 percent of the night and building an eight‑point cushion at their largest. The Jays’ six‑point peak lead and reliance on perimeter shooting ultimately couldn’t overcome DePaul’s stronger efficiency inside the arc and on the boards, giving the Blue Demons the statistical edge that matched the final score.

Creighton won’t have long to dwell on the heartbreak in Chicago, as the Bluejays now turn their attention to a tough Valentine’s Day matchup against the Villanova Wildcats. Villanova enters at 19–5 overall and 10–3 in Big East play, carrying the poise and balance of a team firmly in the conference title hunt. Creighton will look to regroup, rediscover its offensive rhythm, and steady itself against one of the league’s most disciplined defenses. With tipoff set for 2:30 p.m. on FOX, the Jays face a pivotal opportunity to reset their trajectory and reclaim momentum as the stretch run of conference play tightens.

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