Tucker's 2 FTs with 1.1 seconds left lift DePaul to crazy win

For now, and very possibly the rest of the season for DePaul, substance is going to trump style.

That's why the Blue Demons weren't harping about coming dangerously close to blowing a 20-point lead against Liberty on Wednesday night at the Allstate Arena.

Rather than fret over squandering the 39-19 advantage they held late in the first half, DePaul preferred to exhale and find comfort in a harrowing 64-63 victory over the visitors from the Big South Conference.

Thanks to a pair of clutch free throws from Dar Tucker with 1.1 seconds to play, the Demons finally walked off the court victorious after dropping four in a row.

"Real big," Tucker said after leading DePaul with 16 points. "It's good to get a win and get our momentum back."

The Blue Demons (5-4) opened the season with 4 straight wins before losing the identical amount. Even though they were throttled by Northwestern and UCLA in that stretch, the low moment undoubtedly came last Wednesday when unheralded Morgan State paid a visit and exited with a come-from-behind win.

The searing setback was obviously on the mind of the announced crowd of 7,532 as Liberty (7-3) stormed back in the second half behind the scoring of Seth Curry (16 points) and Anthony Smith (15).

Curry and Smith came out firing after being checked for 4 combined points in the opening 20 minutes.

"I'm real proud of the kids," said DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright. "We've been in a lot of close games and I think they get it. Liberty has a team that will cause you a lot of problems because of the way they play."

Smith was voted the Big South's preseason player of the year, but Curry has quickly become the Flames' big gun.

The younger brother of Davidson All-American Stephen Curry, Seth came in as the highest-scoring true freshman in the country at 21.4 points per game.

After being held down by the Blue Demons' Will Walker and Jeremiah Kelly in the first half, Curry was 4-for-6 shooting 3-pointers after the break.

"I congratulate him, he's a good player," Tucker said. "A lot of freshman just don't come in and take over a team like that."

With DePaul clinging to a 62-61 lead in the final minute, Walker fouled Curry behind the 3-point line. The young guard made the first 2, but missed the big finale, and the Demons headed the other way.

The final play was set for Mac Koshwal, but DePaul's big center was guarded underneath, so Tucker tried driving the lane and turned the ball over. Tucker fought to regain possession and was fouled. In a 1-and-1 situation, the sophomore hit both free throws.