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GAME NOTES: In desperate need of a win, the Cincinnati Bearcats welcome the DePaul Blue Demons to Fifth Third Arena for tonight's Big East tilt.

With losses in two straight and four of their last five outings, the Bearcats' NCAA Tournament hopes have taken a big hit. On Sunday, Cincinnati was outlasted, 79-76, in overtime, falling to 15-11 overall. Despite the mediocre mark, the Bearcats can still play their way into the Big Dance, but they would likely need to sweep their remaining games which includes bouts against West Virginia, Villanova and Georgetown.

As for DePaul, it is headed for another last place finish in the Big East having won just one of 14 league bouts. The team is currently mired in an eight-game slump and that includes a 68-59 loss to Louisville on Saturday. Now at 8-18 overall, the Demons return to the road, where they have gone winless at 0-9.

With respect to the all-time series, Cincinnati leads DePaul, 30-15, after the teams split a pair of meetings a season ago. However, the Demons' victory came in the Big East Tournament following a winless regular season in the league.

DePaul went just 4-of-15 from long range and only 13-of-22 at the foul line, as it was downed by Louisville this past weekend. The Demons were outscored in the paint, 38-31, and they also lost the battle on the boards, 35-27. Mac Koshwal guided the squad in the setback with a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds. Will Walker though, had an off game, as he scored just six points while going 2-of-14 from the field and 0-of-7 from three-point range. Despite the performance, Walker remains the team's leading scorer with an average of 16.3 ppg for the season. Koshwal is the only other threat for DePaul and he nearly turns in a double-double with 15.1 ppg and a team-high 9.9 rpg.

The Bearcats hit just 8-of-16 free throws compared to a 16-of-17 performance by Marquette, as they were outlasted in overtime on Sunday. Cincinnati also missed two big three-pointers, one at the end of regulation that could have won the game and another in the closing moments of overtime that would have extended the contest. Rashad Bishop scored 17 points and snared five caroms to lead the Bearcats, while Yancy Gates posted 14 points. Lance Stephenson and Deonta Vaughn, however, combined for just eight total points and that was obviously not enough from the team's top two scorers. Vaughn currently paces Cincinnati with 11.4 ppg and 3.6 apg, while Stephenson checks in with 11.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg. Gates is another option at 10.1 ppg and he is also the team's leading scorer with 6.2 rpg.

Cincinnati really needs this game and it should be able to get the job done against a DePaul club that has struggled greatly.