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DePaul basketball starts season out with victory

The Blue Demons got 20 points from Brandon Young and 16 from All Big East Preseason second team Cleveland Melvin in a 91-59 win over UC-Riverside Friday in DePaul's season-opener.

By Neal Coolong
Jim McIsaac

So far, so good for the DePaul Blue Demons.

Coming off a 12-19 season one year ago, DePaul drubbed visiting UC-Riverside 91-59 in the season opener for both teams Friday.

Junior guard Brandon Young scored 20 points and junior forward Cleveland Melvin added 16 in the win.

Melvin, a preseason All Big East second team selection, led the conference in scoring in 2011 with 17.4 points a game along with 7.4 rebounds. He grabbed seven rebounds in the win over the Highlanders.

The Blue Demons could be a surprise team in the Big East this year, with a strong nucleus of returning players, including Young, Melvin and junior forwards Moses Morgan and Donnavan Kirk.

Both Morgan and Kirk had eight points Friday, with Kirk grabbing four rebounds and blocking two shots. Kirk had three rebounds and three assists.

DePaul will host Garner-Webb at 7:30 p.m. CT Nov. 15. The Blue Demons begin the Big East season hosting Seton Hall Jan. 2.