Flames take rubber match, Horizon title

BANKS’ JUMPER GIVES UIC 2ND NCAA BID

(3/6/02)

CLEVELAND—Tuesday night’s Horizon League championship game had the same intensity as a West side pick-up game.

In fact, some of the participants in the UIC-Loyola matchup perfected their craft on West side playgrounds and high school gyms.

UIC’s Cedrick Banks, coach Jimmy Collins’ most-prized recruit, hit the game-winning basket with 4 seconds left in overtime as the Flames edged the Ramblers 76-75 and claimed their second NCAA tournament bid in school history.

Trailing by one with 13.1 seconds left, the Flames worked the ball to Banks on the left side of the lane. Banks, who scored a team-high 17 points, spun around Loyola defender Kevin Clancy and splashed in an 8-foot left-handed jumper.

“I wanted the ball in my hands,” Banks said. “I felt confident with that shot. I didn't think about who was sticking me [on defense], the shot felt good coming off my fingertips.”

“We knew [UIC was] going to Cedrick,” Loyola coach Larry Farmer said. “We thought about double-teaming. We just matched up [one-on-one]. Kevin [Clancy] had done a great job on him. Banks hit a great shot.”

Clancy then missed a desperation 40-foot shot at the buzzer for Loyola, setting off a raucous celebration on the court.

The victory also gave the Flames intracity bragging rights as the teams had split two regular-season meetings.

Banks and the Bailey brothers, Martell and David, all went to high school at Westinghouse, a West side Public League powerhouse.

Banks was the tournament MVP, as he grabbed seven rebounds to go with his 17 points to lead the Flames (20-13). Martell Bailey, the UIC point guard, scored six of his nine points in the overtime. David Bailey, Loyola's point guard, had a game-high 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting.

Martell Bailey made consecutive layups to put the Flames ahead 72-69, but Louis Smith and David Bailey answered with consecutive baskets for Loyola, giving the Ramblers a 73-72 advantage.

The Flames had a chance to take the lead, but Martell Bailey was called for an offensive foul with 21.4 seconds remaining. However, after a timeout, UIC double-teamed David Bailey and the backcourt and Martell Bailey intercepted a bad pass and scored on a layup as the Flames took a 74-73 lead.

“We just didn’t want [David Bailey] to get the ball and go one-on-one,” Martell Bailey said. “We wanted to double him and make him jump and pass the ball. I left my man to get the steal and went to score.”

On the ensuing possession, Banks fouled David Bailey as the Ramblers attempted to inbound. David Bailey made both free throws to put Loyola back up a point with 13.1 seconds to play.

The Flames built a 59-52 lead with 4:34 left in regulation after Jordan Kardos buried a three-pointer, but the Ramblers fought back. David Bailey's two free throws with 1:11 left gave Loyola a 62-61 lead.

UIC answered on Jon-Pierre Mitchom's three-pointer from the right baseline to assume a 64-62 lead with 40.1 remaining. Nine seconds later, Loyola's Corey Minnifield sank two free throws to tie the game.

Martell Bailey and Mitchom both missed shots on UIC's final possession in regulation.

The Ramblers started the game quickly, jumping out to 17-8 lead midway through the first half as UIC struggled from the field. Shortly thereafter, the Flames found their stroke, going on an 18-3 run en route to a 36-33 halftime lead.

Mitchom contributed 12 points on four three-pointers for the Flames, while Kardos added nine points and reserve forward Kyle Kickert muscled his way to five points and five rebounds.

UIC was 11-of-23 (48 percent) from three-point range.

Ryan Blankson’s 15 points and tournament-record 16 rebounds supported David Bailey's efforts for Loyola (17-13), which had its first winning record in 15 seasons.

The game, which featured 11 ties and a breathtaking 17 lead changes, was a nail-biter all the way.

“Wow, what a game,” Farmer exclaimed. “It was a game of runs. It was a game of chess matches on defense. I'm proud of the way we played. My players have nothing to hold their heads down about.”

“This was a great win for us,” Collins said. “As a fan, I know I would have enjoyed this game. But as a coach, I think [my hair] got grayer and may have lost a few strands.”