ROSEMONT, Ill. — Guard Billy Garrett Jr. scored 18 points while forward Myke Henry and center Tommy Hamilton IV each added 15 as DePaul claimed its fourth straight win with a 83-61 nonconference decision over Milwaukee on Sunday.
The Blue Demons (6-1) are off to the program’s best start since 1993 when they went on to a 10-1 opening run under former coach Joey Meyer.
Guards J.R. Lyle and Steve McWhorter each had 13 points as the Panthers (4-5) saw a two-game winning streak snapped.
Forward Jamee Crockett had 13 while guard Durrell McDonald added 10 for the Blue Demons in theAllstate Arena clash.
DePaul never trailed, building a big lead early and extending the margin to as many as 19 points in the second half before Milwaukee briefly rallied.
The Panthers used improved shooting to cut the margin to nine at 59-50 on Lyle’s jumper with 9:20 showing.
But Crockett and Henry each had 3-pointers over a span of 1:18 as DePaul opened a 65-52 lead with 7:22 to play and then pushed it over 20 in the final minute.
Sunday’s game was the finale of a four-game run in eight days — all DePaul wins.
DePaul, now 14-1 in the all-time series, sprinted to an early 17-4 lead out of the opening tip.
Five different Blue Demons combined to hit 6-of-11 tries (54.5 percent) from beyond the 3-point arch including a pair from Robinson. Hamilton had 10 first-half points for DePaul.
Milwaukee managed just 10-of-31 (32.3 percent) from the field in the first half.
For the game, the Panthers were 26-of-64 (37.5 percent) while DePaul shot 26-of-49 (53.1 percent) and 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) on 3-point shots. The Blue Demons were also 21-of-23 on free throws with Garrett going 11-of-11.
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NOTES: Milwaukee G Steve McWhorter had not previously been known for scoring but owned a 16.6 points and six rebounds per game average through eight games entering Sunday’s game. … The Panthers are 15-93 against teams from the current Big East. … Milwaukee is back home Wednesday for a match with No. 2 Wisconsin and hosts Montana on Dec. 14 before a run of five straight road games through Jan. 4, 2015. … Last Thursday’s 84-60 victory over Chicago State gave DePaul coachOliver Purnell a 13-1 career record against Chicago area opponents. … DePaul came into Sunday 29th nationally in offense, averaging 79.2 points per game. … The Blue Demons are 70-19 against currentHorizon League members. … DePaul travels to George Washington on Thursday.