DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Milwaukee
Men's Basketball Drops 87-76 Decision in Rosemont
12/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 5, 2011
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ROSEMONT, Ill. - DePaul coach Oliver Purnell tried to take some of the blame, and so did freshmen Jamee Crockett, speaking on behalf of his teammates.
Maybe it was a combination of things as the Blue Demons ran into a blizzard of perimeter shooting in Monday's 87-76 loss to Milwaukee at Allstate Arena.
Milwaukee (8-1) came out sizzling. The Panthers went on a 26-6 run in the first half to build a 35-13 lead at the 9:26 mark with Bulls star and NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose sitting courtside.
In the first 10 1/2 minutes, Milwaukee made 78 percent of its shots. That included an eye-popping 85.7 percent from three-point range.
"I told the guys they would cool off some and to hang in there and keep on playing," Purnell said. "Offensively, we should have played better in the first half.
"Milwaukee took it to us from the start and beat us in every phase of a game that was won in the first half. They outcoached us and had their players ready to come on the road and win."
The Panthers wound up shooting nearly 62 percent from the floor and 55 percent from three-point range. Tony Meier (20 points) and Paris Gulley (19 points) combined to go 10-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Milwaukee converted 11 three-pointers to three for DePaul---a difference right there of 24 points. Kaylon Williams led the Panthers with 21 points and five assists.
"We definitely needed to come out with a harder edge on defense," said Crockett who finished with 10 points and three steals. "We were thinking since we beat them last year that this was going to be easier than we thought.
"It wasn't---not at all."
After that opening salvo, DePaul responded with a 10-0 run in coming within 35-23 on a Worrell Clahar jump shot. But the Panthers weathered the Blue Demon surge and built a 48-28 lead by halftime.
After overcoming a 17-point, second-half deficit against Mississippi last Thursday, the Blue Demons were facing a 20-point hurdle at the outset of the second half.
With a jump-start from Crockett, DePaul opened the second half on a 15-4 run in closing to 52-43 with 14:35 left in the game. The Panthers stood their ground after that and led 64-52 midway through the second half.
"The comeback didn't happen," Crockett said. "They kept running their offense and hitting their threes."
Cleveland Melvin (game-high 27 points) and Brandon Young (20 points) did their best to keep the Blue Demons within striking distance.
"I tried to take good shots and kept looking to score for the team," said Melvin who was 10-of-17 from the floor including 2-of-4 from three-point range. "But defensively, we were not putting enough pressure on them."
Purnell's pressure style of basketball is demanding enough without trying to dig out from under daunting deficits.
"Our team has shown an ability to make a run," Purnell said. "But you can't always come back from 17 and 20 points down against good teams.
"Jamee Crockett gave us some good minutes and Cleve continues to put the ball in the basket. Brandon got it going for us."
Purnell said he is glad for a quick turnaround as DePaul (4-3) plays Wednesday night at Loyola Chicago.
"There isn't time to wallow around and think about this game," Purnell said. "Loyola is going to be fired up playing in its newly renovated gym, and they'll be ready for us.
"Maybe I can do a better job of getting across to our guys what they're about to face and we can get one."
