Booker, Clemson clip DePaul
The size of No. 15 Clemson proved too much for DePaul.
Trevor Booker scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help the Tigers beat the Blue Demons 90-74 Friday in the San Juan Shootout in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
"We didn't have an answer for Booker," DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright said. "We physically were overpowered. I thought they absolutely manhandled us at every position."
Booker, who went 10 of 12 from the free-throw line, was one of six players in double figures for the Tigers (10-0), who got 15 points from Cliff Hammonds and 14 from Demontez Stitt.
The Tigers, who trailed by 1 at the break, took control by opening the second half with a 19-4 run, capped by Hammonds' 3-pointer that put Clemson ahead 59-45 with 14:45 left. Stitt started the run with seven consecutive points.
"Today was an example of a game where if we don't ratchet down in the second half, we're in trouble. So it was good to see the team respond," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said.
Booker, who had 3 blocks, also made two deflections to force DePaul turnovers during the Tigers' run at the start of the second half.
"In the second half I stepped up with more intensity, and we played more physical as a team," Booker said.
DePaul (2-7) answered with 7 unanswered points, trimming the lead to 59-52 on a layup by Draelon Burns with 13:20 remaining. But the Blue Demons did not come any closer as the Tigers pulled away with 54 percent shooting in the second half.
"We hung in in the first half, but I thought they turned it up a little bit in the second half," Wainwright said.
Burns led DePaul with 27 points. Karron Clarke added 14 and Dar Tucker had 13.
Clemson was outrebounded on the offensive boards in the first half and finished with only a 33-32 edge in rebounding. Purnell said the biggest adjustment at halftime was to demand more toughness.
"We simply challenged our guys to not be out-toughed," he said.
DePaul (2-7) vs. La Salle (4-5)
When: 2 p.m. at Mario Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
The skinny: DePaul wraps up the San Juan Shootout against La Salle, a team it hasn't faced since the 1989-90 season. Though La Salle isn't quite as strong as Mississippi or Clemson, the Explorers will test DePaul's shaky defense. Need some evidence? In a Dec. 8 game against Morgan State, La Salle scored 20 points in the final 93 seconds but fell 93-78. The Explorers opened the Shootout by putting up 117 points in a win against tournament host Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. After the game, the Demons have a week off before completing pre-conference play at Detroit. They open Big East play on Jan. 3 against Villanova.
-- Adam Rittenberg
Women's result
Notre Dame 67, IUPUI 44: Charel Allen had 12 points and 5 steals, and No. 17 Notre Dame defeated IUPUI in Indianapolis for its eighth straight win. Devereaux Peters had 11 points and Lindsay Schrader added 10 points for the Irish (10-1). Jernisha Cain led IUPUI (3-9) with 15 points.