ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Freshman Cleveland Melvin scored a career-high 23 points as DePaul held on to a 19-point first half lead to give coach Oliver Purnell his 400th career victory in a 71-62 win over Florida Atlantic on Wednesday night.
DePaul (6-6) led by as many as 19 in the first half, but Florida Atlantic (8-6) was able to cut into the lead.
Greg Gantt hit a jumper to get the Owls within 60-52 with 5:01 left, then Raymond Taylor made a 3-pointer and Dennis Mavin converted a three-point play to get the Owls within 61-58 with 3:18 left.
After Melvin scored, Mavin made two free throws to get it back within three, but the Blue Demons put it away after Melvin and Jeremiah Kelly both hit a pair of free throws to make it 67-60 with 25 seconds left.
Gantt scored 20 points for Florida Atlantic and Mavin added 12.
