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Illini nips Flames in classic contest (originally published in Nov. 26, 1996 edition of the Chicago Flame)
A late second-half 11-0 Illini run and the Flames' poor free throw shooting likely cost the Flames (0-1) the game. After senior guard Jevon Hobbs nailed a three-point basket with 7:22 left in the game, the Flames led for the first time in the game, 52-51. The Illini (1-0) immediately countered with the 11-0 spurt to effectively put the game out of reach. The biggest play during the run was a three-point basket by senior forward Jerry Hester with four minutes to play that put the Illini up by eight points. Hester scored seven of the 11 points in the rally. Also, poor free throw shooting from the Flames was an Achilles' Heel, as they finished with 6-for-19 from the foul line for just 32 percent. The biggest culprits were forward Ricardo Hale (0-for-4) and usually reliable guard Mark Miller (1-for-4). The Illini started the game on a 13-2 run, which included eight points by All-America candidate Kiwane Garris. The Flames battled back and kept the game at status quo, trailing 40-28 at the intermission. An 8-0 Flames run to begin the second half turned the tide of the game back to the Flames. However, the poor foul shooting and the Illini's clutch play denied first-year Flames head coach Jimmy Collins a victory in his first game. Just thinking about the game took its toll. "It was hard to sleep last night," Collins said. "I hope the head coach doesn’t have to go through this every night."
Miller (pictured), who led the Flames in scoring last season, did so again in this game, scoring 17 points. However, all 17 points came in the second half after Miller picked up three quick personal fouls in a scoreless first half. Miller felt frustrated about the first half, in which he saw only five minutes of playing time. "It was my fault for getting into foul trouble," Miller said. "I felt we made a few mistakes. I think we can build from that and become a pretty ball club." Illini head coach Lon Kruger, coaching his first game for Illinois was satisfied with the victory. "It was a good basketball game," Kruger said. "I’m proud of the way Garris and Hester stepped up when UIC took the lead." Garris was the main offensive threat for the Illini, leading the way with 26 points and five three-pointers. Hester scored 17 points. Forward Brian Johnson added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Illini. For the Flames, Miller scored a team-high 17 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Hobbs, the key factor in keeping the Flames in the game in the first half scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished off five assists. Junior Bryant Lowe played well, scoring 10 points. Junior point guard Anthony Coomes scored seven points and added five assists. Forward Anton Collins was held off the scoreboard, but secured nine rebounds. Coach Collins praised the Flames effort. "I said we’d have a team that will get out and scrap," Collins said. "If we’d have hit free throws, it would have been different." |
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Collins had bittersweet feelings about the game, in which almost every Illini player was personally recruited by Collins. Collins had been Lou Henson’s primary recruiter for the past 13 years at the Urbana campus.