DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Milwaukee
DePaul's Winning Formula Knocks Off Milwaukee
12/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 14, 2010
Bluetube: Highlights | Postgame Interview
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Maybe the secret for winning basketball at DePaul is a lot simpler than people think.
When the Blue Demons are ahead at halftime, they are undefeated this season.
It happened again on Tuesday night as DePaul knocked off Milwaukee 61-47 before an Allstate Arena crowd of 7,612. The Blue Demons are 3-0 when leading by intermission.
What propelled DePaul to its halftime lead and eventually improved their record to 4-6 was an 18-3 run in the first half.
After getting off to another slow start and falling behind 20-11 midway through the first half, Cleveland Melvin, Tony Freeland and Mike Stovall along with the "Oliver Purnell Press" launched the Blue Demons on the game-changing run.
Milwaukee (5-7) couldn't come any closer than a three-point deficit the rest of the night.
"We pushed the ball and made a few shots," DePaul coach Oliver Purnell said about the 18-3 run. "Our guys did a good job of putting on the pressure, and it fueled our running game."
It left Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter shaking his head.
"Facing all that pressure, we definitely lost some composure at times," Jeter said as his Panthers were guilty of 20 turnovers. "You don't see a lot of teams around the country play that style.
"Their pressure speeds you up and gets you into their tempo. Still, that's not a reason to be careless with the ball."
Freeland led DePaul with 14 points while freshman Cleveland Melvin had 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks in his first start of the season. Stovall added nine points and Krys Faber contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
"The Indiana State game (73-51 loss) woke us up," Stovall said. "We took that game like we could go out there and walk over them. We know we have to play hard against whatever team we play.
"With our press, coach tells us in huddles that we want to speed them up and take them out of their game. We want them to take bad shots and throw the ball all around the court."
Purnell was pleased with his team's effort on the backboards as DePaul outrebounded Milwaukee 36-29. It's the second time the Blue Demons have won the battle of the boards this season, and they are 2-0 when that happens.
"The important thing to understand is that you've got to rebound," Purnell said. "If you're a plus-seven on rebounding and force 20 turnovers, you're going to win a lot of games."
After Milwaukee pulled within 37-34 with 13 minutes, 24 seconds left in the game, DePaul went on an 11-3 run as five different Blue Demons scored. Milwaukee couldn't get any closer than seven after that.
"We need five-to-seven guys to play well," Purnell said. "We got contributions from Jeremiah Kelly and Tony Freeland. Jimmy Drew has a high basketball IQ and the offense runs better when he's out there.
"Cleveland Melvin started because he had two good games last week. He gives you another quick guy on the press, and he is a quick shot-blocker.
"He understands the system, and his defense is a lot better. He understands how hard he needs to play and has gotten rid of that high school trot."
So, how can the Blue Demons continue building halftime leads like the 29-25 advantage Tuesday night?
"We're coming out hesitant and letting the game progress for five or six minutes---and then making our run," Freeland said. "We need to come out hard from the jump ball, and we'll have the lead for the first half."
DePaul's next game is a 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with North Side rival Loyola-Chicago at Allstate Arena.
