ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) -Freshman Robert Kreps scored 19 points and Josh Mayo added 18 as Illinois-Chicago defeated DePaul 85-80 on Saturday night.
Spencer Stewart added 16, nine coming in the final 4:18 for Illinois-Chicago, who won for the first time in five meetings against DePaul.
Mayo made two free throws with 7:15 left to put Illinois-Chicago (6-4) up for good.
Leading 69-68 with 3:43 left, Mayo hit a 3 for the Flames and Stewart scored on a layup. Stewart made two free throws to put Illinois-Chicago up 78-70 with 1:49 left.
DePaul (2-5) was able to cut it to 80-78 when Dar Tucker capped off a 8-2 DePaul run with 43.6 left, but Illinois-Chicago was 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to hold off the Demons.
Tucker led DePaul with 26 points and Draelon Burns added 21.
Scott VanderMeer had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Flames.
DePaul did not get an attempt to tie the game or take the lead in the final minute.
Illinois-Chicago outscored DePaul 8-1 in the final 2:18 in the first half to take a 35-33 lead.
Mayo hit back-to-back 3's during the span. Kreps led the Flames with 10 points in the half and Mac Koshwal led the Blue Demons with 10 and Burns added nine.
Koshwal finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for DePaul.
