GAME NOTES: The DePaul Blue Demons will try to extend their winning streak to four games on Sunday afternoon when they play host to the Milwaukee Panthers in a non-conference clash at Allstate Arena.

Since losing four of its first six games of the season, Milwaukee has pulled to .500 at 4-4 following back-to-back victories. The Panthers most recently downed UMKC at home on Wednesday, 65-56, but they venture back out on the road for this one where they are 0-2 on the season.

DePaul suffered a disappointing 86-74 setback at home to Lehigh on Nov. 26, but since then it has reeled off four straight wins to improve to 5-1 on the campaign. The Blue Demons took on cross-town rival Chicago State on Thursday and came away with a dominant 84-60 win.

The Blue Demons have won 12 of the 13 all-time meetings against the Panthers, including an 80-71 triumph in Milwaukee last season.

The Panthers never trailed in their most recent contest, pulling away from UMKC by as many as 16 in the second half before settling in on a nine-point victory. They shot 44.9 percent from the field, which included 8-of-23 from 3- point range, but the big story in the win was their play on the other end of the floor, as they held UMKC to under 36 percent field goal shooting. Steve McWhorter poured in a game-high 17 points to go with nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Matt Tiby made up for his eight turnovers with a double-double of 11 points and 11 boards, while Cody Wichmann also scored 11 in a bench role.

Milwaukee's offensive attack has not been great this season, as it shoots only 43.5 percent from the field en route to 66.9 ppg, but luckily its scoring defense (65.6 ppg) has been strong enough to bail it out on occasion. McWhorter is not only the leading scorer with 16.6 ppg but he chips in across the board with 6.0 rpg, 3.6 apg and 1.6 steals per contest. Wichmann is the next-best scorer with 8.9 ppg and five others net at least 5.8 ppg.

The Blue Demons had no trouble moving past Chicago State in their latest outing, as they opened up a 17-point halftime lead and cruised from there to the 24-point win. They were plagued by a game-high 22 turnovers, but it didn't matter considering they were red-hot from the field at 52.4 percent and also had an active, effective night at the free-throw line (32-of-41). Tommy Hamilton scored a career-high 25 points on 7-of-7 from the floor and 9-of-12 at the line to go with eight rebounds. Myke Henry netted 12 points and Billy Garrett and Aaron Simpson scored 11 apiece.

Generating points has not been a problem this season for DePaul, which shoots 48.9 percent from the field (including 38.9 percent from 3-point range) for 79.2 ppg, which is more than enough to support a modest scoring defense (69.7 ppg). Henry (17.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Hamilton (15.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) are the spark plugs, as each shoots greater than 54 percent from the field. Garrett brings 12.8 ppg to the table and Jamee Crockett rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.5 ppg.

Milwaukee's inconsistent ways this season do not bode well for success on the road, especially against the well-rounded Blue Demons.