GAME NOTES: The DePaul Blue Demons play their final non-conference home game of the season on Sunday afternoon, as they take on the Illinois State Redbirds at Allstate Arena.

After putting together a four-game win streak, which began with an 87-72 thrashing of Stanford at the end of last month, the Blue Demons saw their successful run come to an end three nights ago in an 81-68 setback to George Washington on the road. Still DePaul is off to a very strong start to the campaign with six wins in eight opportunities.

As for the Redbirds, they are just a single game over .500 at the moment thanks to a 78-74 triumph versus UAB on the road last weekend. The victory was the second in the last three outings for a team that has alternated wins and losses over the last five contests, and is seeking to secure back-to-back wins for just the second time this season.

DePaul leads the series by a substantial 21-4 margin, although the last two decisions have gone in favor of the Redbirds, the most recent of those coming last season in Normal, Illinois. Unfortunately for ISU, the Blue Demons have a perfect 12-0 mark at home in the series.

Against UAB, the Redbirds led almost the entire game and never trailed, shooting an impressive 54.4 percent from the floor while surviving 9-of-18 shooting by the Blazers behind the 3-point line. MiKyle McIntosh provided huge support off the bench as he tallied a team-high 18 points in only 22 minutes of action for the visitors, followed by Daishon Knight and DeVaughn Akoon- Purcell with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Even though he scored just six points in 32 minutes, Reggie Lynch was influential as well with his nine rebounds and six blocked shots.

Lynch doesn't always look for his own shot, but he is scoring a decent 8.4 ppg, which is paired with his 5.7 rpg and 25 blocked shots through seven contests. At the top of the scoring list for the Redbirds is Akoon-Purcell with 15.7 ppg, to go along with 5.7 rpg as well, followed by Knight (12.1 ppg) and reserve Bobby Hunter (10.1 ppg).

The Blue Demons saw their longest win streak in two years come to an end in the nation's capital earlier this week when they suffered 19 turnovers and allowed George Washington to shoot an impressive 57.1 percent from the floor. Myke Henry tried to give the visitors a fighting chance as he scored a game- high 22 points, hitting 4-of-5 shots beyond the arc, but it wasn't enough. Fellow starters Jamee Crockett and Billy Garrett chipped in with 16 and 10 points, respectively, for a squad that converted 8-of-23 (.348) beyond the arc.

On a unit that is producing 78.2 ppg, Henry is the top scorer with his 17.6 ppg, shooting 56.7 percent from the floor and 45.8 percent out on the perimeter, which somewhat makes up for the fact that he is converting just 62.5 percent at the charity stripe. Tommy Hamilton (13.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) holds down the interior, and Garrett (13.1 ppg, 28 assists) handles his share of directing the offense thus far.

The Redbirds may have won the last two against DePaul, but this is a different Blue Demons squad that is far more confident and built with better performers, so extending that series win streak doesn't seem too likely.