CJ Gunn scored 18 points, as DePaul defeated Wichita State 61-58 in a nonconference game Saturday in Wichita, Kan.
The Shockers (6-5), who came in making 72 percent of their free throws, hit only 13-of-28 as the Blue Demons (8-3) were able to keep them at arm’s length in the second half.
None of the misses hurt more than a pair by Karon Boyd with 15 seconds left that could have given the Shockers the lead.
Gunn, who had been held scoreless in the second half, sank two free throws with 13 seconds left to give the Blue Demons a three-point lead.
Kenyon Giles missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer for the Shockers with five seconds left.
Giles led the Shockers with 16 points and four steals, and Emmanuel Okorafor had 12 points and eight rebounds.
NJ Benson contributed 12 points for DePaul.
The Blue Demons led 36-31 after a crazy first half.
The Shockers jumped out to a 16-2 lead with 12:12 left in the half, thanks to an 11-0 start.
DePaul didn’t get its first points until Khaman Maker sank a jumper with 16:27 left.
Okorafor dunked off a Dre Kindell pass to give the Shockers their 14-point lead.
Then, Gunn took over and led a 21-3 Blue Demons run. The Shockers went 3:58 without a field goal during the run.
The senior guard caught fire, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 16-8.
Gunn followed with a layup and another 3-pointer to make it 16-13 Shockers with 10:14 to go.
Okorafor stopped the 11-0 run with a dunk off another Kindell pass, but Gunn went right back to work.
He nailed a jumper to cut it to three and Fabian Flores made it 18-17 Wichita State with a layup.
After an Okorafor free throw, Gunns nailed another 3-pointer to give the Blue Demons their first lead at 20-19 with 7:27 left.
RJ Smith finished the run with a 3-pointer for a 23-19 DePaul lead with 6:47 left.
