Daniels helps UConn rout DePaul 99-78
STORRS, Conn. — DeAndre Daniels had a career-high 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Connecticut routed DePaul 99-78 on Tuesday.
Ryan Boatright scored 22 points and Shabazz Napier added 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for UConn (11-3, 1-1 Big East), which led from start to finish.
The Huskies opened up a 20-point halftime lead, and DePaul (10-6, 1-2) could get no closer than 12 in the second half.
Brandon Young led all scorers with career-high 35 points for the Blue Demons and Cleveland Melvin chipped in 18.
DePaul, which was coming off a win at Providence, played without starters Donnavan Kirk and Charles McKinney, who were suspended for an unspecified violation of team rules.
The 99 points was the most against a Big East opponent since the Huskies scored 117 in a six-overtime loss to Syracuse in the 2009 Big East tournament.
Boatright, who is from the Chicago area, scored five quick points as UConn scored the first nine, part of a 12-3 run.
The sophomore guard also capped an 11-0 run with a 3-pointer that made it 31-11, and had 16 points by halftime.
But he wasn't the only Husky scoring.
UConn shot 54 percent in the half, and Daniels hit five of his six shots, and was nine of 12 for the game. He had 15 points before the break, as the Huskies outrebounded DePaul 30-10. They led by as many as 22 points.
Young had half the Blue Demons points as they went into the break trailing 54-34.
DePaul cut the lead to 12, 59-47, on a Melvin jumper, but UConn used a 6-0 run to stretch it back out to 18.
A steal that led to a spinning one-handed Boatright dunk that made it 71-51 and the Huskies were not challenged again.
UConn outrebounded DePaul 49-29, including 19-10 on the offensive boards. It was just the third time the Huskies posted more rebounds than their opponent all season. The other two came in wins over New Hampshire and Washington.
The Huskies improved to 26-8 in Big East home openers, and have won 20 of their last 23, including the last four. They are 10-0 in conference openers at Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies haven't lost two straight games to open a Big East season since 1989-90.
UConn improves to 9-1 against DePaul, and has won eight straight, with the lone loss coming in 2007.
The Blue Demons were hurt by the loss of Kirk's defensive presence. He had averaged six points and almost two blocked shots a game. McKinney had been chipping in just over five points.
The Blue Demons, who beat Providence 83-73 on Saturday, were looking to win two consecutive road games in the Big East for the first time in six years.
They came into the game 4-0 in road games this season, its best start away from home since the 1993-94 season.
DePaul is off until next Tuesday, when it will host No. 21 Cincinnati. UConn travels to South Bend to take on No. 21 Notre Dame on Saturday.