Javon Freeman-Liberty tallied 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists and David Jones posted a double-double of 23 points and 17 rebounds as DePaul topped visiting Coppin State 97-72 on Wednesday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago to prevail in coach Tony Stubblefield’s program debut.
Sluggish in the first half of their season opener, the Blue Demons shot 52.6 percent after intermission and 47.4 percent for the game. Five players finished in double figures for DePaul, with Brandon Johnson (13 points), Philmon Gebrewhit (12) and Nick Ongenda (10) rounding out a balanced attack.
Jesse Zarzuela led Coppin State with 25 points. Teammate Mike Hood followed with 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Nendah Tarke chipped in 11 points and a team-best five rebounds.
DePaul scored seven of the last 11 points of the first half to take a 41-40 lead into intermission. A trey from Tyon Grant-Foster with two seconds remaining put the Blue Demons ahead.
Outrebounded 24-12 in the first 20 minutes, the Eagles stayed close behind a 6-for-12 effort from long range.
The Blue Demons broke out in the second half, leading by as many as 25 points. After Zarzuela hit a 3-pointer with 18:22 remaining to tie the game at 43, DePaul responded with a 12-2 run over the next 3:46 to build a double-digit advantage it would never relinquish.
Eagles coach Juan Dixon was ejected with 5:12 to go, moments after being whistled for his second technical foul.
Coppin State departs Chicago with two losses in as many nights. The Eagles sputtered to 22.4 percent shooting — including a 2-for-25 (8 percent) effort from deep — in Tuesday’s season-opening, 103-45 loss at Loyola Chicago.
The Eagles shot markedly better Tuesday, finishing at 41.4 percent (24-for-58), including 50 percent accuracy from deep.
DePaul boasted a 50-20 edge on the boards. Gebrewhit and Johnson grabbed seven rebounds apiece for the Blue Demons.
DePaul has won 14 of its past 15 season openers and 86 of 99 in program history.
–Field Level Media
