DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
USF
Cold Shooting Freezes Out DePaul Against USF
1/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Jan. 22, 2012
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ROSEMONT, Ill. - In the end, DePaul simply had trouble making a shot.
The cold shooting led to a 75-59 BIG EAST Conference loss to USF Sunday at Allstate Arena.
Despite all the inaccuracy, DePaul (10-9, 1-6 in the BIG EAST) was able to pull within 54-49 with 8 minutes, 49 seconds left in the second half.
But the Blue Demons missed the next seven shots, paving the way for 12-2 Bulls run which gave USF (12-8, 5-2) its fifth win in the last six games. Augustus Gilchrist led the Bulls with 22 points and Jawanza Poland added 19.
"Our inability to make shots and score was our major downfall," said DePaul coach Oliver Purnell. "It seemed like we never made an open shot, and we were missing close to the basket."
Trailing 37-29 at halftime, Purnell told his players that despite missing layups and dunks, their defense had kept them in the game. Defense would be the only way to stay close.
After making 11 of 30 shots in the opening 20 minutes, DePaul converted just 11 of 35 in the second half.
"We played good defense for about 30 minutes," Purnell said. "But the inability to make shots caused a young team to let down defensively. Frustration kicked in."
Cleveland Melvin led DePaul with 17 points and seven rebounds. Jamee Crockett had a strong game off the bench with 15 points.
But second-leading scorer Brandon Young struggled, missing all 13 of his shots while Moses Morgan misfired on seven three-point attempts.
"We weren't executing on offense," Crockett said. "Defensively, we were not rebounding or getting stops."
Purnell's pressure style of play generally wears a team down, enabling the Blue Demons to come on strong at the end. This time, it was USF who had the finishing kick.
"We weren't getting those stops on defense," Crockett said about USF's surge at the end. "We were not playing as hard as we could.
"Brandon had a tough game, but that is no excuse for us to lose. When that happens, everybody else on the team has to pick up slack. You can't rely on one guy to carry the team."
Crockett got the Blue Demons off to a fast start in the second half with a long jumper followed by a three-pointer. USF rebuilt an eight-point lead when a pair of Melvin baskets and two Young free throws brought DePaul within 42-40.
The Blue Demons temporarily took off their full-court press and went to a 3-2 zone defense that appeared to momentarily catch USF off guard.
Back-to-back Gilchrist baskets capped off an 8-2 USF spurt as the Bulls led 52-44 midway through the second half.
USF came into Sunday's game leading the BIG EAST in defense, allowing just 57.6 points per game. The Bulls were No. 15 in the country in scoring defense.
"It's hard to figure you would go an entire game and not make shots," Purnell said. "We hadn't done that the entire season.
"Moses hitting shots and Brandon going to the basket has been a big part of our offense this year. When that doesn't happen, you know you're going to have problems."
The Blue Demons matched USF throughout most of the first half. Led by Poland, the Bulls closed with a 15-6 burst that gave them an eight-point halftime lead.
DePaul's lone three-pointer in the first 20 minutes was the first basket of the game when Worrell Clahar buried it from the left wing. A Charles McKinney score inside provided the home team with a 23-22 lead, but USF proceeded to finish the first half outscoring the Blue Demons by nine.
DePaul will look to get back on the winning track with a 6 p.m. BIG EAST game on Wednesday at Rutgers.
