16-0 run helps lift Demons to victory
NEW YORK -- Dar Tucker scored 7 of his 16 points in a 16-0 second-half run, leading DePaul to a 60-54 victory over St. John's on Saturday.
Mac Koshwal and Draelon Burns both had 10 points for the Blue Demons (7-8, 3-1 Big East), who had won four straight until this week's loss to No. 7 Georgetown. Wesley Green had 12 rebounds to lead DePaul, which was outrebounded 39-31.
Justin Burrell had 18 points for the Red Storm (7-8, 1-3), losers of two straight and four of five.
Burrell connected on 2 jumpers as the Red Storm scored the first 6 points of the second half for its biggest lead of the game, 30-21 with 16:29 to go.
DePaul then sandwiched runs of 14-4 and 16-0 around a 7-0 spurt by the Red Storm.
Burns' 3-point play capped DePaul's first run that made it 35-34 with 12:25 to go.
Larry Wright's 3-pointer started St. John's burst that gave it the lead, and Burrell finished it with a jumper with 9:21 left that made 41-35.
Tucker's 3-pointer with 7:24 left gave the Blue Demons the lead for good at 42-41, and he completed the crushing 16-0 run with a layup with 4:43 left as DePaul went ahead 51-41.
The closest St. John's would get was 58-54 on 2 free throws by Malik Boothe with 10 seconds to go.