Flames open exhibition play

LOCAL TEAM PROVIDES OPPOSITION

(11/9/04)

The UIC Flames, with several new faces and several bodies relegated to the bench, open up exhibition play Wednesday with Robert Morris at the Pavilion.

Flames coach Jimmy Collins is seeking how some of his new talent melds with returning veterans such as Cedrick Banks, Elliott Poole, Justin Bowen, Marcetteaus McGee and Jovan Stefanov.

Collins was expected to give point guard Rocky Collum a long look, but the transfer from Kankakee Community College injured his knee in practice last week and will be out for at least six weeks.

Wednesday’s game will be a chance for newcomers Karl White, Luther Boyd, Robert Bush and Kevin Bond to earn regular minutes in Collins’ rotation. They will definitely get that chance with Collum and center Josip Petrusic nursing knee injuries and forward Armond Williams sitting out until the end of the fall semester to finish his degree.

Robert Morris was 28-4 last year and averaged 91 points per contest, but lost Louisville transfers Carlos Hurt and Brandon Bender. Bender was selected in the NBDL draft.

RMC’s top returner is 6-foot-4 swingman Derrick Powe, who averaged 12.9 points per game. Former De La Salle guard Aaron Wellington, who played two years at Maryland-Eastern Shore, is the team’s top newcomer.