DePaul Wins Second Straight

DETROIT — Draelon Burns scored 19 points and Dar Tucker returned to his home state and tossed in 18 to help DePaul hold off a late Detroit rally for 70-64 victory on Saturday at Calihan Hall.

The Blue Demons won their second straight game, the first time this season they have won consecutive games, and improved to 4-7 on the season. The Titans dropped to 4-8.

Jon Goode had 25 points for the Titans, who went on a 14-2 run late in the game to erase a double-digit deficit. They trailed 64-61 after Josh Samarco made a three-pointer with 51.6 seconds to play, but DePaul’s Mac Koshwal scored the next two baskets to silence the threat and help the Blue Demons to victory.

Koshwal finished 16 points for DePaul while Tucker grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

The Blue Demons started the second half 9-for-14 from the field to take control. DePaul led by as many as 15 points before Detroit made its comeback.

Chris Hayes had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Titans, who lost their sixth straight game.

The Blue Demons led 32-30 at halftime, despite nine turnovers that turned into 17 Detroit points.

DePaul begins BIG EAST Conference play on Thursday when Villanova comes to the Allstate Arena for an 8 p.m. (CST) contest. The game will be televised by ESPN2.

Game Notes: Burns, who played his 100th career game, became the 44th player in DePaul history to score 1,000-point career points in the first half... DePaul finished the 2007 calendar year with a 15-16 record... along with Tucker, Detroit native Jabari Currie also played his first collegiate game in Michigan. He finished with three points and two assists.

Box Score