DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Missouri State
Garrett Leads DePaul to Win Over Missouri State
11/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Billy Garrett Jr.'s game-winner capped a second-half comeback for the Blue Demons over Missouri State on Wednesday night at Allstate Arena. DePaul trailed by as many as 13 points midway through the second half before Garrett's bucket made the score 68-66 just before the final buzzer.
Missouri State (3-1) entered the game averaging 12 three-pointers per game and opened their scoring with 12 points on four three's. The Bears didn't make their first two-point basket until the 10:37 mark to give them a 14-10 advantage.
The Bears held the advantage throughout the first half and took a 31-22 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
DePaul (3-1) scored the first six points of the second half and moved to within two on a three-pointer by Eli Cain. Cain's three made the score 35-33 with just over 15 minutes left in the game.
The Blue Demons couldn't come all the way back and Missouri State answered with an 11-4 run as a breakaway dunk by Chris Kendrix made the score 58-45 with 7:29 on the clock.
Garrett scored 15 of his game-high 23 points over the final 7:29 as DePaul erased the Missouri State lead. The Blue Demons also got buckets from Tre'Darius McCallum and Brandon Cyrus while the defense held Missouri State to just eight points that included only two field goals.
Cain continued his torrid start to the season with 22 points and eight rebounds while Tre'Darius McCallum registered the first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Missouri State was led by 15 points from Kendrix and 14 by Ronnie Rousseau III.
DePaul returns to action on next Wednesday against Drake at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Start time in Lincoln Park is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Networks and WSCR 670 The Score.
Postgame Notes
- DePaul is 3-1 to start the season for the sixth time in the last nine seasons.
- DePaul's three-point streak was extended to 711 straight games.
- Eli Cain reached double-figures for the 20th time in his career... he has scored in double-figures in all four games this season with at least 20 points in each game.
- Cain's eight rebounds set a new career high.
- Billy Garrett Jr. moved into 30th on DePaul's all-time scoring list... he passed Ken Warzynski (1,203 points, 1967-70) and Drake Diener (1,208 points, 2001-05)... Garrett has 1,192 points.
- Garrett hasn't missed a free throw this season... he is 21-for-21 from the line through the first four games.
- Tre'Darius McCallum registered the first double-double of the season by a Blue Demon... it was the first since Billy Garrett Jr.'s 19 points and 11 assists against St. John's on Feb. 25, 2016.
- Wednesday was the first meeting between the two programs... the two sides could meet again on Dec. 23 at the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic... DePaul is 123-46 all-time against the current membership of the Missouri Valley Conference.
