Gardner-Webb 71, DePaul 59: Max Landis scored a career-high 20 points and the Runnin' Bulldogs stunned the host Blue Demons in the opening round of the Cancun Classic.

Despite playing a game at home in North Carolina on Wednesday and flying to Chicago this morning, Gardner-Webb (2-2) took control early and never trailed in winning for the first time against a team from the Big East Conference.

Leading 34-24 at halftime, Landis scored 13 points in the second half as the Runnin' Bulldogs raced to a 19-point lead late in the second half and coasted to the victory. Kevin Hartley added 16 points and 12 rebounds for Gardner-Webb and Donta Harper chipped in 13.

DePaul (1-1), which had not played in six days, shot only 42.6 percent from the field and made 2-of-13 from 3-point range. Cleveland Melvin led the Blue Demons with 18 points and eight rebounds.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Gardner-Webb is in a stretch of playing five games in seven days. ... DePaul is 1-2 all-time against members of the Big South Conference. ... The Runnin' Bulldogs will bus Friday to Iowa City and play Iowa on Saturday night in the second round of the Cancun Classic.