Layden Blocker scored 18 points and CJ Gunn tallied each of his 17 points after halftime as host DePaul routed Detroit Mercy 95-75 on Sunday in Chicago.
Solid long-range shooting boosted DePaul (4-2), which finished 14-for-27 from beyond the arc (51.9%). Gunn swished four treys while Blocker had three.
The Blue Demons shot 50% overall (30 of 60) compared to 45.8% (27 of 59) for the Titans (1-6). DePaul finished plus-three on the glass despite the Titans’ 13-12 edge in offensive rebounds and forced Detroit Mercy into 12 turnovers.
DePaul led by as many as 24 points in the second half. Kaleb Banks hit a pair of threes in the second to help the Blue Demons pull away.
An effective running game and ball movement also lifted DePaul. The Blue Demons collected 23 assists on 30 made field goals. RJ Smith had 10 points and seven assists. Fabian Flores led DePaul with eight rebounds.
N.J. Benson and Brandon Maclin each scored 10 points each for DePaul.
TJ Nadeau paced Detroit Mercy with 14 points and Ayden Carter added 10. Lance Stone led the team with seven assists and Legend Geeter grabbed five rebounds.
Detroit Mercy opened the game on a 7-0 run, with Nadeau bookending the spurt with a jumper and 3-pointer. DePaul missed its first four attempts from the floor but got on the scoreboard with a Maclin trey.
A Banks dunk off a Smith steal gave the Blue Demons a 13-11 advantage with 12:03 to go before halftime. The Titans rallied back but never led again after the 7:11 mark of the first half.
Benson’s alley-oop dunk from Blocker and a pair of Maclin free throws in the final minute of the half boosted DePaul into a 37-29 lead at the break.
Nadeau led all scorers with 11 first-half points while Blocker paced DePaul with nine.
The Blue Demons lead the all-time series with the Titans 30-8, including 20 victories in 21 home games.
Jeremy Lorenz (neck strain) missed the game for DePaul.
–Field Level Media
