Sloppy DePaul Wins Again

Freshman center Steven Hunter scored 17 points as No. 20 DePaul beat Nicholls State, 67-43, Thursday night in Chicago.

DePaul (5-2) forced Nicholls (La.) State (2-2) into four early turnovers and several bad shots to take a 15-2 lead. Nicholls State pulled within seven, but Hunter scored eight points during a 13-0 run that gave DePaul command.

DePaul, which followed an overtime loss at Duke on Saturday by struggling to a seven-point victory over Monmouth (N.J.) Monday, was also sloppy in committing 18 turnovers against Nicholls State.

“The last two games, I haven’t seen the intensity, starting in the locker room,” said guard Paul McPherson, who had 11 points. “The guys are laid back, not focused and concentrated--even myself. If we play this way against St. John’s [Tuesday], we’re in for a bad game.”

Nicholls State, playing its first game since Nov. 29, shot 29%.

OTHER GAMES

Forward Brian Cardinal and guard Maynard Lewis each scored 15 points for No. 25 Purdue (5-2) in an 83-48 victory over Western Illinois (4-5) at West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue forced Western Illinois to commit 30 turnovers, including six during a 15-2 run in a five-minute stretch in the first half. Lewis and fellow reserve guard Rodney Smith, who had 13 points, combined to make nine of 16 shots and all seven of their free throws. The Boilermakers got 39 points from their reserves. . . . Guard C.J. Chapman’s three-point basket with 1:53 remaining in overtime gave Princeton (4-4) the lead for good in a 77-72 home-court victory over Texas Christian (5-2). Texas Christian Coach Billy Tubbs was ejected after his second technical foul five minutes into the game. . . . Reserve guard Terrell Taylor scored 21 points and was one of five players in double figures for Creighton (6-0) in an 89-72 victory over intrastate rival Nebraska (3-4) at Omaha. The Cornhuskers, who have only two players from Nebraska on their roster, still lead the series 21-11.

WOMEN

Natalie Williams had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the U.S. women’s national team, which held No. 3 Louisiana Tech to 30% shooting in an 84-55 exhibition victory at Ruston, La. Tamicha Jackson led Louisiana Tech with 11 points but made only five of 16 shots. The U.S. national team, which shot 57% and outrebounded Louisiana Tech, 49-38, is 18-1 in its pre-Olympic schedule. The loss came against No. 2 Tennessee. . . . Tawana McDonald had 21 points and reserve Shala Crawford had 13 points and 15 rebounds for No. 5 Georgia (10-1) in a 107-46 victory over Hampton (2-3) at Athens, Ga. . . . Jennifer Fambrough had 20 points and Cynthia Hall got all of her 18 points on three-point baskets for No. 25 Mississippi State (7-0) in a 71-56 victory over Georgia Tech (5-2) in Atlanta.