Javon Freeman-Liberty scored 26 of his career-high 39 points after halftime and David Jones notched 24 points and 10 rebounds to boost host DePaul to a 99-94 victory against St. John's on Sunday night in Chicago.

DePaul (14-14, 5-13 Big East) won consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 5-9, while sending St. John's (15-13, 7-10) to its second straight defeat.

The Blue Demons salvaged a split of the season series with the Red Storm. St. John's won by five at home on Jan. 5.

A 15-7 run helped St. John's trim the deficit to 88-86 with 1:38 to play, but DePaul held on by executing from the free-throw line. The Blue Demons shot 55.9 percent from the field and 26 for 38 from the line. St. John's shot 48.7 percent and was 13 for 22 from the line.

Freeman-Liberty finished 14 for 21 from the floor, including 5 for 8 on 3-pointers. He surpassed his previous scoring high, achieved Jan. 8 against Villanova, by five points. Sunday marked his third game of at least 30 points this season.

Julian Champagnie overcame a 2-for-12 start from the field to lead St. John's with 26 points. He had 21 after halftime.

Aaron Wheeler had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Red Storm, while Posh Alexander contributed 18 points and eight rebounds.

Yor Anei scored 10 points for DePaul. Freeman-Liberty added eight rebounds, while Jones had five assists.

The Blue Demons trailed for only 2:39 in the game, seizing the advantage for good on a Brandon Johnson trey at the 13:39 mark of the first half. DePaul's largest lead was 10 points.

Freeman-Liberty (13 points) and Jones (11), who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, sparked a balanced DePaul attack in the first half to help the hosts take a 47-41 lead into the break. Despite going 3 for 11 on 3-pointers, the Blue Demons shot 57.6 percent in the first half.

Wheeler (10 points) and Alexander (nine) paced St. John's in the opening half.

St. John's maintained a 28-22 edge in the all-time series.

--Field Level Media