DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Downs Chicago State 78-69
12/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Rashon Burno and Imari Sawyer each scored 15 points, in leading five players in double figures as DePaul beat Chicago State 78-69 Saturday.
The Blue Demons (4-3) averted their third straight loss, but trailed by one at halftime and struggled again with a supposedly inferior opponent.
The Cougars (1-5) join Division II Lewis (Ill.) and Alaska-Anchorage in providing surprisingly tough opposition for DePaul, which had been ranked nationally this year.
DePaul made 27-of-37 free throws, while Chicago State was only 7-of-8.
The Cougars held a pair of 10-point leads in the first half, thanks to 47 percent shooting and 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
The Blue Demons shot 10 of 29 (35 percent) from the field in the first half, but cut into the Cougars' lead at the foul line.
Bobby Simmons, the Blue Demons' leading scorer, was held to 3 points on free throws and 0-of-7 shooting from the field in the first half as the Cougars led 35-34 at the half.
Back to back 3-pointers gave DePaul its first lead, 40-37, since the game's opening possession. But the Cougars hung close and grabbed a 47-45 lead with 13:11 left on Tony Jones' jumper.
Steve Hunter's hook shot put DePaul ahead 51-49 with 11 minutes left, and ignited a 14-0 run.
Darrell Johns scored a game-high 24 and Jason Wessenberg added 15 points for Chicago State.
The 7-1 Hunter scored 14, Lance Williams 13 and Simmons 11 for DePaul, which hosts No. 3 Kansas on Tuesday night.