Marquette stays in Big East race and keeps DePaul’s losing streak going.

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MILWAUKEE—Vander Blue is stepping up his game as No. 24 Marquette is fighting to stay on top of the Big East standings.Blue scored 18 points for the Golden Eagles in an 89-78 victory over DePaul on Saturday, the Blue Demons’ eighth straight loss.With the win, Marquette (17-5, 8-2 Big East) moved one-half game ahead of No. 9 Syracuse for the lead in the conference. Syracuse plays at home Sunday against St. Johns.Junior Cadougan had 17 points and Davante Gardner added 13 for Marquette, which won for the 22nd straight time at home, the fifth-longest streak in the nation.It was the fourth straight game Blue led Marquette in scoring, including getting 30 points in a 63-50 win over South Florida on Jan. 28.Marquette coach Buzz Williams said his team is improving and has the potential to be very successful as the season moves into March. The only hiccup was a 70-51 loss to Louisville on Feb. 3.Marquette must still play Syracuse, Notre Dame and Georgetown, all Top 25 teams.DePaul fought back midway through the second half to cut the score 64-59 when Montray Clemens grabbed a rebound and scored with 9:40 remaining. But Marquette’s Todd Mayo scored the next four points including a rebound and layin with 8:32 remaining to give Marquette a 68-59 lead.Worrel Clahar scored eight of DePaul’s next 10 points, including two long 3-pointers, to cut Marquette’s lead to 77-73 with 4:43 remaining.Marquette went inside to Gardner, who scored on a short jumper and was fouled. He hit the free throw to give Marquette an 80-73 lead with 4:28 remaining.Trent Lockett then blocked Jamee Crockett’s short jumper, Blue hit two free throws and Jamil Wilson nailed a 3-pointer with 2:31 remaining to give Marquette an 85-73 lead.Brandon Young had 21 points and six assists for DePaul (10-13, 1-9), while Clahar and Donnavan Kirk added 16 points each.DePaul coach Oliver Purnell said he was proud of his players’ effort, but not the final score.Purnell said DePaul was hurt by Marquette’s offensive rebounding. Of the 24 shots the Golden Eagles missed, he said they got the rebound on 12 of them.