Walker leads #10 UConn Past DePaul

When the 10th ranked team in the nation comes in along with a Big East Player of the Year candidate in Kemba Walker, you know the result isn’t going to be very good.

Saturday’s game at Allstate Arena lived up to those expectations as DePaul fell 82-62 to 10th ranked Connecticut. UConn (14-2, 3-2) handed DePaul (6-11, 0-5) their 18th straight Big East loss.

The Huskies were once again led by Walker, who has led UConn in scoring in every game this season. Walker led all scorers with 31 points on 10 of 17 shooting from the floor.

“You’re going to be hard pressed to find a better guard anywhere than Walker,” said DePaul coach Oliver Purnell.

Freshman guard Jeremy Lamb contributed with 13 points and sophomore Alex Oriakhi added 11 in the winning effort for the Huskies.

DePaul was led by freshman Cleveland Melvin who recorded his first career double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Melvin verbally committed to UConn before deciding to come to DePaul last spring.

“The thing you can’t stop about him is when he shoots it seems to me that he gets to his own rebound about as quick as any kid in the league,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said about Melvin. “There is no question as he develops more skills, making that shot more, some strength, he’s going to be a terrific player. It wouldn’t surprise me a couple years down the road if he’s an all-Big East player. He’s got a motor that just runs and runs. His first jump of the game and his last jump of the game were the same.”

The only other player to reach double figures for the Blue Demons was freshman Moses Morgan. It was a breakout game for the young freshman. In 16 minutes, Morgan scored an efficient 11 points on four of seven shooting, including three of five from beyond the arc.

“It’s good to see Moses shooting the ball,” said Purnell. “We need another guy to make an outside shot.”

Junior center Krys Faber had eight points and six rebounds before fouling out with 8:33 to go in the game.

If you’re looking for a bright spot for the Blue Demons in this contest, then you can take a look at the rebounding statistics. DePaul outrebounded a much bigger UConn team on the glass by a 44-36 margin and scored 17 second chance points.

The Blue Demons will next travel to archrival Marquette on Tuesday night.

Notes

- Class of 2011 recruit Braeden Anderson has requested a release from the letter of intent that he signed with DePaul in November. More on Anderson’s decision in this story….

Braeden Anderson

Box Score