Senior guard Billy Garrett Jr. shrugged off a cold start this season with a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and six assists to lead DePaul to a 77-59 nonconference victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.

Garrett, a preseason second-team All-Big East pick by the coaches, returned to his customary level of play after entering the game averaging 7.5 points and 2.5 assists while shooting 14.3 percent from the field.

Sophomore guard Eli Cain contributed 20 points and five rebounds for DePaul (2-1). Senior guard Darrick Wood added 12 points off the bench.

Freshman guard Bryce Barnes, a Chicago native, posted 14 points off the bench to pace Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1-2). Reserve freshman forward Bryce Nze added 13 points as the Panthers' starting lineup combined for just 21 points.

DePaul pulled away thanks to its 3-point shooting and rebounding. While Milwaukee made just 3 of 23 3-pointers, DePaul drilled 11 of 22. DePaul also owned a 33-25 margin on the boards.

DePaul owned a 30-27 lead at halftime as Garrett outstripped his season averages and led everyone with eight points and three assists.

Garrett turned into a rebounder at the outset of the second half as DePaul needed less than three minutes to push its margin to 40-30. He grabbed defensive rebounds on Milwaukee's first three second-half possessions, which triggered a 10-3 run that consisted of a Cain layup, a Brandon Cyrus layup (assisted by Garrett) and back-to-back Cain 3-pointers.

DePaul's lead hovered in the 10-point range until the middle of the second half. Immediately after Milwaukee sophomore guard Brock Stull -- the team's No. 2 scorer and top rebounder -- went off the floor with four fouls, the Blue Demons went on an 8-1 run highlighted by junior forward Tre'Darius McCallum's alley-oop dunk of a Joe Hanel feed as Milwaukee's attempt to apply full-court pressure failed.

The Blue Demons finished with 19 assists on 27 baskets and shot 53 percent from the field.