Finishing the game with more points than its opponent was a secondary victory for DePaul.

Getting on the court was the primary win — and its most impressive.

After a 28-day delay because of recurring COVID-19 issues, DePaul on Wednesday became the last men’s basketball team from a major conference to tip off during this complicated season. Beating Western Illinois 91-72 at Wintrust Arena must have felt especially rewarding.

Stepping on the court for competition was something the Blue Demons hadn’t done since March 11, when the NCAA shut down as the pandemic spread across the nation.

“If we waited approximately a month for basketball, then we owe it to ourselves and to the game to put our best foot forward,” DePaul coach Dave Leitao told players before the game. “Just making sure these games are precious. We’ve understood that more now than ever because it had been taken away by the pandemic we’re in. If we’re going to be thankful of the opportunity, let’s go out and show it collectively.”

Since Nov. 25, DePaul saw 10 games canceled or postponed with the program suspending team activities twice as players tested positive for COVID-19 and others were quarantined by contact tracing.

Wednesday’s game,played in front of no fans because of COVID-19 safety guidelines, was a makeup from when DePaul canceled against the Leathernecks for its season opener.

Leading up to tipoff, even players wondered if they finally would take the court.

“It can get canceled just like that,” guard Javon Freeman-Liberty said. “It was definitely fingers crossed for all of us.”

The Blue Demons still aren’t at full strength; they had only eight scholarship players against Western Illinois. Five of those players are newcomers this season.

Forward Romeo Weems, forward Darious Hall and freshman forward Keon Edwards sat out because of COVID-19 protocol. Weems, a first-team all-freshman Big East selection last season, averaged eight points while starting every game.

Jaylen Butz, a senior forward, is out indefinitely for personal reasons, a team spokesman said.

Sophomore Markese Jacobs is recovering from a knee injury he suffered last season.

The Blue Demons’ last quarantine session ended Monday, meaning they had only two days of practice. They have held only a few practices in the last three weeks — and only six times did they have enough for five-on-five scrimmages.

DePaul traveled to Iowa State for a Dec. 6 nonconference game, but after pregame test results showed a positive case in the program, the game was canceled shortly before tipoff.

The rustiness from a lack of play showed in the form of 20 turnovers.

But DePaul had more than enough to get by Western Illinois. The Blue Demons shot 59% from the field, making 10 of 20 3-pointers.

Freeman-Liberty, who transferred from Valparaiso, had an impressive debut. He scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

“It’s tough times, really it is,” Freeman-Liberty said. “For us to get out there and play at the level we did showed we have major talent. We all were just anxious to get out there and play the game that we love.”

He made for a strong backcourt with Charlie Moore, who led the way with 22 points, including four 3-pointers. He hit eight straight shots during one stretch.

Nick Ongenda, a 6-foot-11 center, supplied the fun with four dunks for eight points and six monstrous blocks. He scored the first points of DePaul’s long-awaited season off a rebound putback 43 seconds after tipoff.