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Beleaguered DePaul Perseveres Past Pirates
JUMP
TO BOX SCORE
ROSEMONT, IL (AP) — Andre Brown scored 20 points and DePaul
jumped out early Saturday to beat East Carolina 62-51.
During the game, a small group of fans walked out to protest
the state of the men's basketball program at DePaul.
A loose coalition of people unhappy with coach Pat Kennedy
organized the boycott through the Internet and e-mail, and about 50 of the
announced 4,651 fans in the Allstate Arena participated.
After making the NIT and then the NCAA tournament in
Kennedy's second and third seasons, DePaul has gone 21-31 the last two, and
is in danger of missing the Conference USA tournament.
The Blue Demons (9-13, 2-8 in C-USA) won for the first time
in six games since beating East Carolina on January 23.
``The fans who have a problem, it's their problem, quite
frankly,'' Kennedy said. ``The people who support DePaul will continue to do
it.''
DePaul led 36-23 at halftime as East Carolina shot 31
percent from the field and made 10 turnovers.
Rashon Burno and Sam Hoskin each hit 3-pointers as the Blue
Demons opened up a 44-25 lead, and East Carolina didn't get closer than
eight after that.
Bryan Foxx scored 14 points to pace East Carolina (8-15,
2-9).
With about four minutes left in the first half — and DePaul
ahead 29-12 — disgruntled fans grabbed their coats and walked out in a
single-file line, many of them chanting ``Pat must go! and Bradshaw, too!''
in reference to DePaul
athletic director Bill Bradshaw.
``I really didn't notice them,'' Bradshaw said.
The walkout caught the attention of Burno, the team captain,
who later grabbed the public address microphone after the final buzzer to
thank those who stayed.
Burno, who had seven points, eight assists and five steals,
said if some fans wanted to give up on the team, it was their prerogative.
``People do things for their own individual reasons,'' Burno
said. ``I've been dealing with adversity all my life. But the coaching staff
has stuck with us. Nobody has given up.
``I was speaking for the whole team and coaching staff. I
wanted to let them know we appreciate the fans who do support DePaul.''
The team has also endured a rash of suspensions, including
guard Imari Sawyer, who missed his third straight game because of academic
violations.
Michael Orzoff of Chicago, a former season ticket holder,
attended his first game in two years just so he could get up and leave.
``I wouldn't go to games, because I have yet to see where
they play hard for 40 minutes,'' said Orzoff, who graduated from DePaul Law
School in 1997. ``We're still waiting. It's the coaching.''
Box
Score
DePaul 62, East Carolina 51
EAST CAROLINA (8-15)
Bing 4-12 0-0 8, Mikulas 3-10 0-0 6, Badiane 1-4 1-2 3, Brown 2-7 4-5 8,
Holcomb-Faye 0-6 0-0 0, Foxx 5-7 1-1 14, Hawkins 2-5 0-0 6, Boddie 2-6 0-0
6, Moore 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 6-8 51.
DEPAUL (9-13)
Brown 8-12 4-4 20, Williams 3-8 2-3 8, Brooks 1-5 3-4 5, Seals 2-3 0-0 4,
Burno 1-5 4-6 7, Tulley 0-0 0-0 0, Hoskin 1-3 4-5 6, Diener 3-7 2-2 10,
Greer 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 20-45 19-24 62.
Halftime -- DePaul 36, E. Carolina 23.
3-Point goals -- E. Carolina 7-24 (Bing 0-6, Brown 0-1, Holcomb-Faye 0-4,
Foxx 3-5, Hawkins 2-5, Boddie 2-3); DePaul 3-12 (Brooks 0-3, Seals 0-1,
Burno 1-3, Diener 2-5).
Rebounds -- E. Carolina 30 (Mikulas 8); DePaul 37 (Williams 11).
Assists -- E. Carolina 11 (Holcomb-Faye, Boddie 3); DePaul 15 (Burno 8).
Total fouls -- E. Carolina 21, DePaul 14.
Fouled out -- None.
Attendance -- 4,651.
02/23/2007 10:59:34 AM
Copyright 2002
The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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