ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — A quick rematch with heightened stakes awaits when the DePaul Blue Demons host the Providence Friars in a Big East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Allstate Arena. The teams met just two weeks ago on Feb. 7 in Providence, where the Friars (11-15, 4-9 Big East) dominated in a 90-72 victory. DePaul (14-12, 6-7) has since rebounded with two consecutive wins, including a 69-57 road victory at Seton Hall on Wednesday, while Providence has dropped three straight. The February result will be fresh in both teams’ minds. Providence forward Ryan Mela was a key factor in that win, scoring 16 points with eight rebounds. Mela is coming off a strong individual performance in a loss to St. John’s last Saturday, where he logged 37 minutes with 14 points and nine rebounds. His consistency will be crucial for a Friars squad seeking to halt its skid. For DePaul, the focus will be on forward NJ Benson, who was held to 10 points and seven rebounds in the first matchup. Benson has been on a tear since, averaging 22 points over his last two games, including a 21-point effort in the win over Seton Hall. His offensive resurgence has fueled the Blue Demons’ recent push. DePaul currently sits in the middle of the Big East standings and will look to protect its home court to solidify its position. Providence, near the bottom of the conference, is in desperate need of a win to build momentum for the final stretch of the regular season. The Friars have shown they can score in bunches, as evidenced by a 97-87 double-overtime win over Butler earlier this month, but have struggled defensively during their losing streak. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST Saturday. For Providence, it begins a challenging final four-game stretch. For DePaul, it represents an opportunity for revenge and a chance to move above .500 in conference play.