ROSEMONT, ILL. ? Just off the top of his head, Brandon Rush rattled off multiple reasons for Kansas University’s second-half meltdown against DePaul on Saturday afternoon at Allstate Arena.

“We gave this one away due to lack of defense, mental mistakes, leaving people open and stupid fouls,” Rush, KU’s sophomore forward, said after the No. 5 Jayhawks’ 64-57 loss to the unranked Blue Demons.

Rush scored three points off 1-of-7 shooting. He also had four assists and three turnovers and missed three of four three-point tries in a game where KU squandered a 14-point second-half lead.

“At the end, they started making shots. They were getting every call they wanted, so they were going to the free-throw line,” Rush added.

The Demons hit 19 of 26 free throws to KU’s nine of 14.

Rush’s counterpart, Sammy Mejia, scored 23 points, 18 in the second half with Rush guarding him much of the time.

“He was tough. He goes to the offensive glass,” Rush said of Mejia, who had seven offensive rebounds, eight total. “He started making wide-open shots. We were leaving him open, and he started converting (including eight straight points in pivotal 14-0 run).”

Rush had arguably his worst game in two seasons at KU. At one point, he and Mario Chalmers kept passing the ball back and forth before Rush finally missed badly on a layup try.

“I didn’t think Mario would pass it the last time. When I laid it up, their little guard hit my elbow up, and it made me shoot it higher,” Rush said.