DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Drake
Blue Demons Bounce Bulldogs
12/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
DES MOINES, Iowa - DePaul registered its fourth straight win with a 74-71 win at Drake on Wednesday night. Billy Garrett Jr. led four in double-figures with 19 points while Tommy Hamilton IV and Eli Cain scored 13 each.
The Blue Demons opened the game with a 14-2 run, but Reed Timmer led Drake back with 20 first-half points. The Bulldogs were never able to get the lead in the first half, but a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer made the score 38-37 in favor of the Blue Demons at intermission.
Drake (4-5) briefly took the lead in the second half as the two teams traded baskets over the first three minutes. A Hamilton layup gave the Blue Demons the lead for good, but the rest of the evening wouldn't be easy as the Bulldogs wouldn't go away.
DePaul (5-3) gradually increased its advantage as Garrett converted a three-point play to make the score 56-47 with 12 minutes left on the clock.
The lead remained between five and eight points over the next nine minutes of the game until the Bulldogs moved to within three with 2:41 to go. Consecutive baskets by Myke Henry and Garrett increased the advantage to seven entering the final minute.
The final minute saw Henry step to the free throw line and seal the win by going 3-of-4 in the final 15 seconds. His last two free shots gave DePaul a 74-68 lead before the Bulldogs made a three-pointer at the buzzer.
As a team, the Blue Demons went 12-for-15 from the free throw line and Henry finished with 11 points. Hamilton totaled 13 points and nine rebounds while Cain added six boards and three steals to his 13 points.
Timmer finished the game leading all scorers with 30 points.
The Blue Demons return to McGrath-Phillips Arena on Saturday night for a 9 p.m. game against Little Rock. The Trojans enter the game as one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the nation at 7-0. For ticket information, contact the DePaul ticket office at (773) 325-SLAM or online at www.depaulbluedemons.com/tickets.
Postgame Notes: DePaul won its season-high fourth straight game... last season saw the Blue Demons put together one four-game win streak... Tommy Hamilton IV recorded his 30th career game in double-figures... Billy Garrett Jr. moved into the top 10 all-time in free throws... he finished the game tied for ninth with 338 free throws (Ron Feiereisel, 1950-53)... DePaul leads the series, 6-2... the Blue Demons are 122-46 against the current membership of the Missouri Valley Conference.
