November 28, 1998

Box Score

ROSEMONT, Ill. - DePaul's freshman frontcourt duo of forward Quentin Richardson and center Lance Williams combined to score 40 points and grab 20 rebounds to lead the Blue Demons to a hard-fought 75-72 victory over visiting California Saturday afternoon.

DePaul, paced by Richardson's 18 boards, tallied the final three points of the game over the last 19 seconds to improve to 3-1 on the year. Cal fell to 2-1.

The teams traded baskets early in the game before Cal went on an 11-1 run to grab a 24-15 advantage with 7:52 left in the first half. DePaul, though, responded by outscoring the Bears 20-4 over than next 5:30 to go up, 35-28. Cal came back to tie the score at 35-35 on a Geno Carlisle jumper, and the Bears had a chance to take the lead at the break, but Carlisle was whistled for an offensive foul with a second left.

Cal played the entire second half in foul trouble, as the Bears were called for 14 fouls in the first 20 minutes, including three each on centers Francisco Elson and Shahar Gordon. Facing that situation, head coach Ben Braun started 6-7 forward Sean Lampley in the middle to begin the second half.

The move paid immediate dividends as Lampley scored six quick points to open the period and Cal went ahead, 45-41. The teams stayed close to each other the rest of the way with 11 ties and eight lead changes in the second half alone.

But every time Cal took the lead, Richardson seemed to answer for DePaul. He pulled down 10 offensive boards during the game, either converting them for baskets or going to the free throw line after being fouled.

Cal took its last lead at 66-65 on a Carlisle three-pointer with 4:33 left. Three free throws by Richardson put DePaul up by two before Carlisle's jumper with 3:04 remaining tied the score at 68. The Demons Bobby Simmons then nailed a three-pointer at the 2:40 mark, but Sean Lampley's quickly brought Cal within one.

Richardson made one-of-two free throws with 57 seconds left, only to have Lampley tie the game at 72-all with 46 seconds left. Simmons was fouled by Lampley with 19 seconds on the clock, and he made the first free throw. However, after he missed the second, DePaul ran down the loose rebound and Cal was forced to foul Rashon Burno with 12 seconds left. He made both free throws for a 75-72 lead.

Cal brought the ball to half court and called timeout with 9 seconds left. But the inbounds pass from Dennis Gates to Thomas Kilgore went over Kilgore's head into the backcourt. Kilgore ran the ball down and sprinted up the floor, but he lost control of the ball among a cluster of Blue Demons, and a jump ball situation went to DePaul with 1.7 seconds to go, effectively sealing the game.

Carlisle paced Cal with 25 points and Lampley had his second straight double-double with 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Mike Gill also finished with 11 points for the Bears.

Richardson finished with 31 points to go with his 18 rebounds, while Williams added 19 points for DePaul.

Cal returns home for a three-game homestand beginning Thursday against Houston at 7:30 p.m. at the Arena in Oakland. The Bears also host Rhode Island Saturday, Dec. 5 and Coppin State on Monday, Dec. 7.