Half way home: A look back

(as published in Whoosh! magazine Jan. 20, 2004)

The Flames stood at 11-5 through the first 16 games of the season, which saw some highs and some lows and only a small glimpse of what could still be a magical team.

The campaign opened up at the Black Coaches Association Classic in Cincinnati, where UIC had its eyes on playing Xavier in the championship game.

Things started well enough as the Flames played a spectacular second half in defeated Cal-Irvine 77-65 in the tourney opener Nov. 15. Senior Cedrick Banks (pictured) scored 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting as the Flames turned a 36-35 halftime deficit into victory, ending the game with a 20-7 spurt. UIC turned on the heat, forcing 15 turnovers in the second half.

In the BCA semifinals, UIC’s fortunes took a sour turn, as Oakland (Mich.) jumped on the Flames 79-66. UIC had its opportunities in the second half, but couldn’t stop 6-foot dynamo Mike Helms, who poured in 27 points. Oakland turned a 65-63 lead into a runaway with a 14-3 spurt to close the game.

The Golden Grizzlies out-rebounded UIC 36-32, while the Flames committed 22 turnovers to Oakland’s 12. UIC’s Armond Williams scored 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting, but Banks struggled mightily, shooting just 3-of-16 from the field for six points.

Instead of playing Xavier in the title game, which would helped the Flames’ RPI immensely, they matched up with Mercer in the third-place contest.

UIC took home the consolation prize with a 75-64 win as Banks had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career. Center Joe Scott had one of his best games of the season, putting in 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

Next up was a rare in-season home-and-home series with Evansville. The first game was played Nov. 21 at Evansville’s Roberts Stadium, where the Flames blew a double-digit lead in the 2002-03 season opener.

This year was different as UIC parlayed a big second half into a relatively easy 70-54 after trailing 28-25 at the half. Banks scored 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting after starting the game 1-of-9 from the field. Banks also had a career-best six steals, while sophmore Elliott Poole registered a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The teams met again four days later at the Pavilion, but the Purple Aces played a much tougher game. However, Martell Bailey trumped the Aces with 15 assists to just one turnover as the Flames improved to 4-1 with a 77-73 victory. Banks had 25 points and four three-point baskets and Aaron Carr had 14 points and three three-pointers.

UIC started to roll when it flew down to Texas for a game at Texas-San Antonio Nov. 29. Banks topped the 20-point plateau for the fifth time in six games, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting as the Flames whipped the Roadrunners 73-47. He also had seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Williams broke out and had his best game of the season with an 18-point, eight-rebound effort.

The Flames stretched their record to 6-1 by winning their fifth straight with a 77-60 road victory over Eastern Illinois Dec. 2. Carr led UIC’s strong, balanced effort with 20 points. Williams (pictured) contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Flames controlled the glass with a 43-27 rebounding advantage and scored 36 points in the paint.

UIC’s luck ran out when it traveled to Iowa Hawkeye Challenge. Eyeing an chance to play Iowa in the championship, the Flames missed another golden opportunity as they fell to Northern Illinois 54-53 Dec. 5. UIC jumped out to a 15-3 lead early, but its 37-percent shooting helped the Huskies rally. Trailing in the final 10 seconds, the Flames missed two shots that could have won the game: Carr missed an open baseline jumper and Banks missed a three-pointer.

Instead playing Iowa, the Flames got struggling Eastern Washington in the consolation game the next night. The Eagles were good fodder for a UIC victory, but the game didn’t do any favors for the RPI. Bailey had 11 points and nine assists and keyed UIC to a 67-52 win as the Flames improved to 7-2. Banks added 13 points and was named to the All-Tournament team.

After a week off from final exams, the Flames returned to the Pavilion for just their second home tilt of the season. The rest and the home cooking did plenty of good as UIC took it to Downstate rival Illinois State Dec. 13. Carr and Banks combined for 45 points as the Flames took an 88-76 win over the Redbirds. Carr had 23 points, including 21 after halftime to keep UIC safely ahead.

The Flames improved their mark to 9-2 with another easy victory over Northwestern a week later. Three Flames – Carr (21 points), Banks (20) and Williams (20) - all reached the 20-point mark in a 90-71 win. UIC opened the second half on a 16-4 surge to break the game open. The Flames shot 68 percent after halftime.

UIC was seemingly riding high as Horizon League play began in Milwaukee two days before Christmas.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Flames wrote another chapter of their budding bitter rivalry at U.S. Cellular Arena. The game was closely contested for about 30 minutes until the host Panthers took over. The Flames could not stop Panthers star Dylan Page in the second half as Page ended up with 25 points and Milwaukee took a 78-62 win.

Banks and Milwaukee’s Ed McCants had personal scoring battle in the first half, as McCants scored 17 points and Banks 16 in the opening half as the Panthers took a 44-37 at the half. Banks had just one field goal in the second half.

UIC, which dropped to 9-3, rallied to tie it at 46-46 on a Bailey basket, but the Panthers broke the game open moments later with a 12-0 run, fueled by six points from Page.

The Flames ended the 2003 calendar year with the Holiday Hoops showdown at the United Center with their sister school, the University of Illinois. Unfortunately for UIC, 2003 ended on a sour note as the Fighting Illini pounded the Flames 75-60 in front of 15,415 fans.

The Illini used their height advantage to frustrate the Flames. UIC missed 15 layups, shot 36 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 52-34. Roger Powell led then-No. 20 Illinois with 17 points, while Williams led the Flames with 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

UIC’s bright spot came when redshirt freshman Jovan Stefanov came off the bench in the final minutes and scored six points. Stefanov had missed the first 12 games of the campaign while recovering from a serious illness.

It was an unhappy new year on Jan. 3 when the Flames returned to conference play at the Pavilion. Detroit, inspired by terrfic game-planning by its coaching staff, upended UIC 56-48, handing the Flames their third straight defeat and the team’s first homecourt loss.

Banks shot just 1-of-8 from the field for four points as the Titans’ defense swarmed him all day. In addition to poor shooting (38 percent), the Flames also committed 19 turnovers and were out-rebounded 40-30.

Reeling at 9-5 overall and 0-2 in Horizon League play, UIC welcomed Youngstown State to the Pavilion Jan. 5. The Penguins were the cure to what ailed the Flames as UIC reverted to playing team basketball in a 66-47 victory. Williams led the way with 15 points as the Flames shot 54 percent.

“The guys got tired of losing,” Williams said. We came together and said let’s go out there and have some fun.”

UIC wrapped up the first half of the season with a convincing 77-59 victory over crosstown rival Loyola. Banks scored 23 points and Carr added 22 off the bench in the Flames victory.