The Associated Press

DePaul was picked by the league's coaches to finish last in its division, but has gotten off to its best start in nine years under first-year coach Dave Leitao.

In a test against Conference-USA's most accomplished team, the Blue Demons (8-3, 0-1) initially got flustered, then got their act together too late and fell to Cincinnati 64-56 Wednesday night.

UC led by 19 with 11 minutes left in the game, but DePaul went on an 18-2 run that got flu-stricken coach Bob Huggins out of his folding chair for a few stomps and screams.

Sam Hoskin scored 22 points, including a three-point play that cut it to 55-53 with 3:25 left.

Leitao had no explanation for why his Blue Demons played so poorly, then came together at the end.

"That's a $100 million question when it comes to basketball," he said. "Sometimes you don't know why it happens.

"All of a sudden, we started to attack on both ends. We got hands in shooters' faces, and we allowed only one shot at the basket."

The late run was little consolation.

"Regardless of where this program is, was or is going to be, it's about winning," Leitao said. "We didn't win because we didn't do the things we need to do for the majority of the game."