DePaul able to Tucker out tough Rutgers

The season statistics revealed a team that didn't pack a punch, but Rutgers began peppering DePaul with jabs from the opening tip.

By halftime, the last-place Scarlet Knights had landed at an outstanding rate -- 60.7 percent from the field and 5 of 9 from 3-point range.

They entered Saturday ranked last in the Big East in field-goal percentage (38.9) and 3-point shooting percentage (28.1), but it didn't show.

"You're on the ropes," DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright said. "You're absolutely on the ropes."

Wainwright had to change the pace Saturday before Rutgers delivered a knockout. So he shuffled defenses, using a moderate full-court press and a zone.

Then he let Dar Tucker play.

Tucker's customary off-the-bench burst, plus steady play from Draelon Burns and several others, helped DePaul survive 75-73 before 8,254 at the Allstate Arena.

Though Rutgers finished the game shooting 61.7 percent (61.5 from 3-point range) -- its previous season bests were 47.2 and 44 -- the Blue Demons' opportunistic play helped erase a 15-point deficit, their largest of the season.

"We were thinking teams did it to us," said Burns, referring to DePaul's tendency to blow leads. "We thought we could do it to a team, finally."

The Demons (8-9, 4-2) never slowed Rutgers' shooting, but they forced 9 second-half turnovers and consistently converted for points.

Consecutive giveaways by guard Corey Chandler led to DePaul buckets, the second of which, an alley-oop from Cliff Clinkscales to Tucker, nudged the home squad ahead 64-63 with 5:39 left. It was DePaul's first lead since the opening minutes.

The zone crowded passing lanes and limited Rutgers (8-11, 0-6) to only four 3-point attempts after halftime.

"We started in man and they got like 5 layups," Wainwright said. "Then we went to zone and they got five 3s. I was going to go ask (Rutgers coach Fred Hill), what would he like me to play next?

"We played some combination defenses and picking up (full court) helped. It took them a little bit out of rhythm."

So did Tucker.

The freshman played just six first-half minutes but boosted DePaul on a 6-0 run before the break, finding Matija Poscic (career-high 10 points, 5 rebounds) for a layup. Tucker played the entire second half, scoring all 12 of his points.

As Rutgers continued to sink shots, Tucker swished a 3-pointer with 2:57 left to give DePaul a 71-69 lead. He then rebounded a missed free throw and sealed the game at the line with 11.4 seconds left.

"How do you not like watching him play?" Wainwright said. "I don't know if I have anybody else like him that would produce that much instant energy or athleticism.

"(The pace) got a little bit more frenetic, and his value increases."

Burns led DePaul with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting in one of his best performances. Freshman forward Mac Koshwal added 18 points and 5 rebounds as DePaul, which got outrebounded 43-20 on Wednesday at Villanova, held a 29-24 edge with 14 second-chance points.

"Coach said they had a couple of slow big men, so take advantage," said Koshwal, who is recovering from the flu. "And I did."

DePaul remains in the Big East's top cluster and can reach the .500 mark for the first time since Nov. 28 with a win Monday against Florida Gulf Coast.

"We think we should be better, and we could be better," Tucker said. "But it ain't over yet."