Blue Demons Trounce Howard

DePaul made its last game at Alumni Hall a memorable one.

The No. 20 Blue Demons, behind Quentin Richardson's 28 points, including 20 in the first half, and Paul McPherson's 22 on 10-of-12 shooting, easily defeated Howard 105-61 on Saturday night.

It was the final men's game played at cozy Alumni Hall, the Blue Demons' home since 1956, though not regularly since 1980.

"I wish we could play all our home games here," McPherson said. "It was my first time playing here and now I'm going to miss it already."

"We were content to let Richardson set up and shoot his 3-pointers, but when we found out McPherson was starting, we knew the combination of those two on the floor at the same time would be hard for us," Saulny said. "It was a bad matchup for us and (DePaul coach) Pat Kennedy knew it."

McPherson, who wears No. 23, electrified the crowd with several acrobatic dunks.

"I know there's a lot of pressure wearing that number in this city after Michael Jordan," McPherson said. "So, I just try to play hard so the fans will enjoy it."

Richardson, a consensus preseason All-American, was 10-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and had eight rebounds. But he was glad for the help.

"We don't have to worry about people concentrating on me, because we've got a few other weapons," Richardson said.

Bobby Simmons added 20 points with a game-high 12 rebounds for the Blue Demons, who are ranked for the first time since 1992.

DePaul (1-0) scored a quick dunk immediately after the opening tip and began the game with a 21-0 run, holding Howard scoreless untimore than five minutes passed.

The Blue Demons led 58-33 at the half and coasted from there.

The Blue Demons shot 64 percent from the field, had 30 assists, blocked six shots and outrebounded Howard 47-22 as they dominated the Bison (0-1).

"I was pleased with how we played at times, and not so pleased at others," Kennedy said. "We were very inconsistent with our inside defense."

Reggie Morris scored 19 and Jonathan Stokes added 11 for Howard, which shot 40 percent.

Alumni Hall, the primary home for the Blue Demons until most home games were moved to suburban Rosemont Horizon in 1980, will be torn down in the spring. The final game did not quite sell out, as 5,224 fans attended. The arena on Chicago's North Side seats 5,300.

At halftime, more than 100 former Blue Demons players, were honored. Mark Aguirre, George Mikan and Ray Meyer, who coached the Demons to 724 wins, were not among them. Meyer has been estranged from DePaul University since his son Joey was fired in 1997. Meyer did attend the October dedication to the campus recreation and fitness center that bears his name.

DePaul's all-time record at Alumni Hall is 288-71.

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