CONNECTICUT 80, DEPAUL 54: Jeremy Lamb broke out of a long slump by scoring 18 points and the Huskies ended a two-game losing streak against the visiting Blue Demons.

Lamb was 8 of 13 from the field after shooting only 31 percent over the last four games. The sophomore was one of four players in double figures.

Shabazz Napier added 14 points and 11 assists for Connecticut (16-9, 6-7 Big East), which shot 63 percent in the second half (19 of 30) during its fourth straight game without Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun.

The school announced prior to the game Calhoun will miss at least the next three games while receiving treatment for his spinal stenosis.

It was a virtual must-win game for the defending national champions, who had lost six of their previous seven contests, and the Huskies took advantage of the Big East’s worst defense to register their highest point total since an 83-69 win over St. John's on New Year’s Eve.

Connecticut led 34-24 at the half and broke the game open with a 15-5 run at the start of the second half. UConn led by as many as 27 points.

Jeremiah Kelly scored 16 points for DePaul (11-14, 2-11), which has lost five straight and 10 of 11. The Blue Demons have dropped 59 of 63 in league games since 2008-09.

GAME NOTEBOOK: DeAndre Daniels, a highly touted freshman who has struggled this season, scored eight points in the first half for UConn. He didn’t play against Syracuse and logged only 17 minutes in the two games prior to that. … Connecticut missed 14 of its last 17 shots in the first half. ... The Huskies host No. 13 Marquette on Saturday.