CHICAGO — Tommy Hamilton IV scored a career-high 25 points, and DePaul claimed a 84-60 nonconference victory over Chicago State on Thursday night.
The Blue Demons (5-1) are off to their best start since 2009-10, their best under fifth-year coach Oliver Purnell.
Hamilton, a sophomore center, already matched his career best with 17 first-half points.
DePaul forward Myke Henry scored 12 points, guards Billy Garrett Jr. and Aaron Simpson each had 11, and forward Darrick Wood contributed 10 points off the bench.
Guard Clarke Rosenberg collected 20 points for Chicago State, which dropped its fifth straight.
DePaul never trailed on the way to its third straight and most decisive win of the season.
The Blue Demons held a 47-30 advantage by halftime and a 21-point lead after a fastbreak layup by Garrett with six minutes to play. The lead grew to 25 points in the closing minutes.
Chicago State (2-7) never got closer than 13 points during the second half.
Twelve players recorded minutes as the Blue Demons improved to 13-0 all-time against the Cougars and 2-0 at Chicago State’s Jones Convocation Center.
DePaul used an 11-0 first-half run over to take command, part of a 18-2 surge over a 4-minute, 33-second span on the way to a 33-13 lead.
The Blue Demons led 47-30 at halftime behind Hamilton’s 17 points. Henry added 12 as the Blue Demons shot 14-for-26 (53.8 percent) from the field and went 16-of-17 from the free-throw line before the break.
Rosenberg had a team-high 10 first-half points as Chicago State shot 12-for-21 (38.7 percent).
NOTES: G Clarke Rosenberg, Chicago State’s scoring leader with a 15.5-point average, scored just three points Saturday in the Cougars’ 90-42 loss at Notre Dame. … The Cougars entered Thursday averaging 62.4 points per game, 275th in the nation. … Chicago State took DePaul into overtime in the last meeting on Dec. 15, 2013, before the Blue Demons prevailed 77-70 at Allstate Arena. … The Cougars hit the road Saturday for a nonconference game at Toledo. … Thursday’s game was DePaul’s third of four games in an eight-game stretch which concludes Sunday at home against Milwaukee. … DePaul’s 78.2 scoring average entering Thursday was the 37th highest in the country.
