DePaul University Athletics
Tucker's Free Throws Send DePaul Past Liberty
12/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Dar Tucker scored 16, including a pair of free throws with 1.1 seconds left, as DePaul snapped a four-game losing streak with a 64-63 win over Liberty on Wednesday night.
Mac Koshwal scored 14 and Devin Hill had 13 rebounds for the Blue Demons (5-4), which squandered an 18-point lead in the second half.
Seth Curry, who came in averaging 21.4 points per game to lead all true freshmen, scored 16 for Liberty (7-3). Anthony Smith scored 15, and Brolin Floyd and Kyle Ohman each added 10 for the Flames.
Ohman's three-pointer with 2:13 remaining capped a 8-0 run that gave Liberty its first lead of the second half, 61-60.
Liberty made 9-of-17 3-pointers after halftime and cut DePaul's lead to 55-53 with 7:03 remaining.
The Blue Demons led 39-23 at the half.
Notable
DePaul Notes
- The Blue Demon defense held Liberty’s leading scorer Seth Curry (21.4 ppg) to just two first half points.
- DePaul is now 1354-793 all-time.
- Devin Hill led the floor with a season-high 13 rebounds
- Hill has recorded a block in eight of his last nine games and leads the team with a season total of 17
- DePaul did not allow for a single point off of a turnover in the first half
- Dar Tucker led the team in scoring for the seventh time this season with 16.
- DePaul is now 2-0 this season against teams nicknamed the Flames (beat UIC in November).
Liberty Notes
- Jesse Sanders set a new season/career high with nine rebounds.
- Despite just two first half points, Seth Curry led Liberty’s offense with 16 total points.
- The last two Liberty losses were decided by a combined total of six points.
- Liberty is now 0-5 all-time against current members of the BIG EAST Conference.
Series Notes
This was the first meeting between the two programs.
This is was also DePaul’s first win against a team that currently comprises the Big South Conference (DePaul lost to VMI in the 1976 NCAA Tournament).
Up Next
DePaul hosts Southern on Friday in the second round of the Las Vegas Classic. The 7:30 p.m. (CST ) at the Allstate Arena will be broadcast at www.depaulbluedemons.com.