ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) -Deonta Vaughn scored 18 points - including two insurance free throws with four seconds to play - as Cincinnati held off a late DePaul surge to claim a 59-55 victory on Saturday.
The victory was the second straight for the Bearcats (Big East, 12-6, 2-3) while the host Blue Demons (8-10, 0-5) fell for the 10th time in conference play dating back to February 2008.
Cincinnati saw a 16-point lead evaporate as a DePaul comeback peaked with a pair of Will Walker free throws that cut the deficit to 56-55 with 1:22 left.
The Bearcats regained the lead when Dion Dixon was fouled and hit the second of two free throws with 25.8 seconds.
Bearcat forward Mike Williams scored 13 points and seven rebounds while reserve Yancy Gates added a pair of late field goals. Walker paced the Blue Demons with 17 points.
Forward Dar Tucker and center Mac Koshwal had 15 points apiece for DePaul.
