DePaul overwhelms Morgan State with stifling defense

Kaleb Banks scored 18 points, CJ Gunn chipped in 15 and the defense forced 20 turnovers as DePaul thumped visiting Morgan State 92-49 on Tuesday in Chicago.

The Blue Demons (7-3) led by as many as 43 points, the final margin of victory, in their nonconference home finale while limiting the Bears to 20% shooting.

Layden Blocker added 14 points for DePaul, which shot 55.3% from the field. Banks and Blocker combined to go 15-for-15 from the free-throw line.

Morgan State had just 11 field goals and didn't swish its first 3-pointer until Eugene Alvin connected from deep with 13:35 left in the game.

Morgan State dropped to 1-8 after losing its seventh straight game. Before Tuesday, the Bears' biggest defeat during the skid was a 32-point loss at Old Dominion on Nov. 21.

The Bears finished plus-six on the glass while snagging 21 offensive rebounds.

DePaul cruised behind a dominant first half that featured a 22-0 run and a defensive effort that limited the Bears to 2-for-28 shooting -- a 7.1% clip.

Six different Blue Demons scored during the 22-0 spurt, with Banks (seven points) and Gunn (five) providing the spark.

Morgan State missed its first 21 attempts from the field and did not record its first basket until Rob Lawson drilled a pull-up jumper with 5:20 left in the first half to draw the Bears within 39-10.

The Blue Demons led 46-15 at halftime. Tuesday marked the first time since a Nov. 23, 2024, rout of Northern Illinois that DePaul held an opponent to 15 points in the first half.

Lawson finished as the only double-digit scorer for Morgan State with 13 points. Christian Meeks and Christian Oliver scored six points each and were the only other Bears with multiple made field goals. Alvin grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

Kruz McClure dished four assists for DePaul, which had 21 assists on 26 made field goals. Blocker had three steals.

Brandon Maclin (shoulder) and Fabian Flores (neck soreness) missed the game due to injury for the Blue Demons.

DePaul held an opponent to 50 points or under for the first time since Dec. 3, 2018, against Florida A&M.

--Field Level Media