Rise and shine, Flames AFTER SLEEPY START, UIC DOMINATES (11/12/06)
Division II St. Edward’s of Austin, Texas was raring to go and jumped out to a quick nine-point lead, while UIC was without a point in the first 4:27. The Flames finally woke up and grabbed control of a 75-60 victory in their season opener at the Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. “I was awake the entire time,” said UIC coach Jimmy Collins, who had a few choice words during the first media timeout. “The players might have gotten out of bed after that run.” The pep talk fired up the Flames, especially junior Othyus Jeffers, who finished with a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds. “I can’t repeat what Coach Collins said,” Jeffers said. “We just needed to focus on defense and stop running around with our heads cut off. We needed to get in the game, or else we’d better be ready to run (at the next practice).” The most impressive statistic was Jeffers’ 10-for-10 performance from the free-throw line. “Since the summer, we've worked harder on free throws more than anything,” Jeffers said. “I know I’m going to be type of guy to get fouled because I’m always by the rim, going after the ball. Those should be easy points for me that I gave up last year.” Jovan Stefanov contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, while Josh Mayo chipped in eight points for UIC (1-0). The Flames finally scored their first basket on Mayo’s jumper in the lane with 15:33 left in the first half. UIC chipped away and took a 21-19 lead on Stefanov’s layup with 7:23 left in the half. Using a 21-4 run, the Flames built the lead to 39-27 at the break. They put the game away with an 18-7 second-half run. Jeff Obersteller led the Hilltoppers (0-1) with 14 points. Collins was pleased with the win especially after the team accepted his coaching in the first half. “We talked about moving our feet (on defense) instead of reaching,” Collins said. “We talked about patience on offense.”
Scott VanderMeer, Spencer Stewart, T.J. Gray and Jermaine Dailey made their debuts as part of Collins’ 11-man rotation. VanderMeer was scoreless with two rebounds and a block with four fouls in 11 minutes. Stewart scored two points (on free throws) in 13 minutes. Gray had two points and two assists in five minutes and Dailey had a putback basket in 13 minutes of action. … The Flames emptied the bench late in the game, playing Jovan Ignjatovic, Greg Zimny, Eb Noonoo and Luis Martinez. Noonoo returned sooner that expected from his left-wrist sprain. Martinez is a 6-foot-7 freshman walk-on from Lincoln Park High School. … St. Edward’s lost one of its starters when Dion Ivanov slipped and injured his right knee late in the first half. HIGHLIGHT PLAYS: Karl White’s offensive rebound on the weak side and putback basket with 5:39 left in the first half. … In a 45-second burst about midway through the second half, Bond hit a mid-range jumper, Jeffers made a steal and converted a layup, then VanderMeer recorded a block leading to a layup by Stefanov. That burst put UIC up 59-42 with 13:06 to play. … With 2:41 left, Stewart and St. Ed’s Shawn Weinstein collided, resulting in a foul call on Weinstein. Hilltoppers coach Ryan Marks, who was riding the officials all afternoon, exploded and was slapped with a technical foul. … With 1:45 left, Noonoo hit Ignjatovic with a beautiful pass on the fastbreak and Ignjatovic scored a layup and converted a three-point play. |