CHICAGO, Ill. – Malik Maitland, Isaiah Bailey, and Cletrell Pope each notched double-figures, but Bethune-Cookman fell to host DePaul in its season opener, 80-58, at WinTrust Arena. The Wildcats (0-1) led by as many as five points, 22-17, with 10:04 in the first half but the Blue Demons (1-0) picked up momentum and took a 43-31 lead into intermission.
 
Cletrell Pope was one of four Wildcats to make his BCU debut and led the team with nine rebounds. He was perfect on four field goals attempts in helping the Wildcats close the final 2:28 on a 5-1 run. The redshirt-junior also chipped in two blocks.

Maitland and Bailey each recorded two steals while Bailey paced the Wildcats with three assists. 

Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Max Strus led all scorers with 25 points and connected on 5-12 treys. 

BCU was just 6-13 at the free throw line while DePaul converted on 22 of 30 tries. 
 
BCU continues its battle against the BIG EAST with a 4 p.m. Eastern tip-off against Marquette on Saturday, Nov. 10.