DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Drake
Spirited Comeback Leads DePaul Past Drake 77-75
11/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - Eli Cain's three-point play with 39.9 seconds left and a Brandon Cyrus free throw made all the difference in DePaul's thrilling 77-75 comeback win over Drake Wednesday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
The Blue Demons trailed by 15 points with 9:25 left in the second half but battled all the way back behind five players in double figures.
Cain led the way with 19 points while Chris Harrison-Docks and Cyrus had 14 points. Darrick Wood contributed 12 big points and Tre'Darius McCallum added 10 as DePaul improved to 4-1.
The Bulldogs built their biggest lead of the game at 64-49 by the middle of the second half. That's when DePaul took off on a 9-0 burst to draw within 64-58 with Cain and Harrison-Docks providing the offense.
The Blue Demons kept battling back behind big shots from Wood and Cyrus. McCallum's layup off a sharp Billy Garrett Jr. feed left DePaul down 70-69 with 3:30 left. But a Graham Woodward three increased the deficit to four.
Cyrus hit another shot that was matched by Drake's T.J. Thomas. Wood scored to make it 75-73 and then followed up with a key defensive play with less than a minute to go.
Down by nine at intermission, the home team opened the second half on a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to four. Reed Timmer connected on a three straight from beyond the arc as Drake (1-6) outscored DePaul 15-9 to take a 55-45 lead at the first media timeout. Harrison-Docks had eight points to keep the Blue Demons within range.
With 14:29 left in the first half, 6-foot, 10-inch freshman Levi Cook made his season debut. Several minutes after beginning his collegiate career, he converted a pair of free throws to give DePaul a 12-8 lead. Cook is being counted upon to provide some inside strength and rebounding.
Cain was looking to maintain his scoring touch with eight points in the first 13 minutes in helping the Blue Demons secure a 22-18 lead with 6:24 to go in the first half. The sophomore guard had opened the season with four consecutive 20-point games.
Harrison-Docks buried a long three-pointer, but Drake went on a 16-0 run to turn a 27-22 DePaul advantage into a 38-27 Bulldog lead. Billy Wampler scored a dozen points in that stretch. Two Cyrus free throws halted the surge and left the Blue Demons trailing 38-29 at halftime. They did not score a basket in the final 4:29.
DePaul is back in action at 6 p.m. Saturday with a big rivalry showdown against Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston.
Postgame Notes
- DePaul is 4-1 for the second time in the last three seasons.
- At McGrath-Phillips Arena, the Blue Demons are 2-0 this season and 12-2 all time... DePaul also hosts UIC in Lincoln Park on Dec. 14.
- Wednesday marked the second consecutive game the Blue Demons erased a double-figure deficit in the second half... DePaul trailed Missouri State, 58-45, with 7:29 left on Nov. 23.
- The 15-point deficit was the largest deficit overcome since DePaul trailed by 16 against USF on Feb. 9, 2008... the Blue Demons won that game, 69-61... DePaul also trailed by 15 earlier that season in a 75-73 win over Rutgers on Jan. 19.
- DePaul finishes November with a 4-1 record...
- DePaul put a season-high five playres in double-figures.
- Eli Cain's 19 points ended his streak at four games with 20 or more points... dating back to last season, Cain has scored in double-figures in six straight games and nine of his last 10 games.
- Darrick Wood has scored in double-figures in three of his four games this season.
- DePaul leads the series, 7-2, against Drake... the Blue Demons are 124-46 against the current lineup of Missouri Valley Conference programs.
