DePaul University Athletics
Stovall Not Lone Star in Win Over Texas State
12/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Since the beginning of the season, Mike Stovall has been waiting for a game like this.
So has his coach, DePaul's Jerry Wainwright.
Stovall picked an opportune time to put on his best performance of the season in helping lead DePaul to an 86-69 victory over Texas State Saturday at Allstate Arena.
The 6-foot, 5-inch Stovall finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, six assists and six steals while playing the entire 40 minutes. Will Walker topped the Blue Demons in scoring with 23 points and also had five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Devin Hill contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks in 40 minutes, and it was the 6-9 sophomore's third-straight game in double figures.
"Before the game, coach told me that Will Walker can't make every shot and score every point for us," Stovall said. "He told me to attack the basket and be more aggressive.
"That loosened me up. I know he is still going to yell at me, but it felt good to know he had confidence in me."
This was reminiscent of the Mike Stovall in his high school days at run-and-gun Marshall who was one of the top five players in the city as a senior.
After firing up Public League fans with deadly outside shooting and crowd-pleasing slam-dunks, Stovall earned a scholarship to Oregon State.
He transferred after one season with the Beavers to Mineral Area Community College in Park Hills, Mo. before landing at DePaul
Wainwright made a change at Friday's practice, having Stovall handle the ball more and getting him more involved in the offense.
It worked.
"That began to build my confidence," Stovall said. "I knew Devin and Eric (Wallace) would step up down low. I knew Jeremiah Kelly would play his game. I was the missing piece."
Hill, Wallace (nine points, eight rebounds, four blocks), Stovall and walk-on Nate Rogers sparked a 13-0 run at the end of the first half to transform an 11-point deficit into a 34-32 halftime lead.
That 13-point burst evolved into a 31-6 DePaul run that provided a 54-40 lead.
"We gave coach Wainwright an early Christmas present by letting Mike Stovall feel real good about himself," said Texas State coach Doug Davalos. "Stovall had a tremendous game.
"Our game plan was designed to keep Will Walker (three points in the first half) out of their offense. But Walker does such a good job of creating shots. He was so confident in the second half, he felt like he could take anyone one-on-one. That's why he's a tremendous player."
Hill demonstrated an ability to score both inside and outside as he made 7-of-11 shots, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
"Devin and Mike are really playing out of position, and we've asked a lot of them," Wainwright said. "Devin's inside defense has really improved, and he is learning how to attack the basket. That's why his shooting percentage went up."
Hill nodded his head in agreement.
"The last three games, I've been going right to the basket," Hill said. "I'm not doing any spin moves or stuff like that."
DePaul improved to 7-4, and Walker hit a pair of three-pointers to give him 150 for his career. That ties him for fourth all-time with Draelon Burns.
The Blue Demons close out the nonconference portion of their schedule Tuesday at Florida Gulf Coast.