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Scrappy Flames rally past Penn
GET TOUGH IN 2ND HALF
(1/9/05)
Banks (pictured) scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, mostly on layups and intermediate jumpers, and provided four rebounds, four assists and three steals without committing a turnover as the Flames pulled out a 57-47 victory over Ivy League contender Penn in front of 4,173 at the UIC Pavilion.
The Flames (7-7) trailed by six points on several occasions and didn’t have grab their first lead until the 33rd minute of the game. Banks found Elliott Poole with a pass, which Poole converted into a three-point play (a layup and a foul) on a fastbreak with 7:56 left in the game, breaking a 37-37 tie.
“I was keeping up with Ced on the fastbreak,” Poole said. “Ced’s unselfish. I know if I keep up with him I’m going to get the ball.”
Banks was a catalyst in the UIC comeback, but was so the Flames’ defense and grit. UIC smothered the Quakers in the second half, limiting them to 24 percent shooting and forcing 22 turnovers for the game.
“I haven’t been working on my jump shot as much,” Banks admitted, “but I’ve working on other aspects of the game. I’ll have [my jumper] turned back on soon.”
“For some time, we haven’t been able to been able to deliver the ball to Ced in the right places,” UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. “Usually there’s two or three guys running out at Ced and the point guards aren’t supposed to give him the ball when he’s not open.”
Tough defense turned into efficient offense down the stretch for the Flames. Penn made just 3 of their last 23 field goal attempts.
With the Flames struggling to find themselves midway through the second half, Poole provided a spark by diving on the floor for a loose ball and gaining a key steal for the defense.
“When Elliott dove for that ball, I wanted to suit up,” Collins said. “He gave the team a big boost.”
“I just wanted it at the time,” Poole said. “It was time to go earn some scrap points. I saw the ball on the floor and took a chance.”
Collins thinks Collum is ready to start: “Rocky probably won’t come off the bench again. He’s certainly coming into his own. He was injured. He’s the piece we were missing.”
Banks hit consecutive layups to put UIC ahead 46-41 with 3:56 left and fed Poole, who nailed a 15-footer a minute later for a 48-43 advantage. Stefanov scored on a short jumper in traffic to extend the lead to seven and Penn never got any closer.
The Flames hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 47 seconds to seal the victory, which was the team’s third straight and fourth in the last five games.
Penn (4-6) led for most of the contest, starting off with a 9-3 lead after an Eric Osmundson layup. UIC tied it at 11-11 on Collum’s three-pointer midway through the first half, but the Quakers stretched the lead back to 24-18 on Osmundson’s three-pointer with 2:40 left. The Flames pulled within 24-22 at the break.
Despite Armond Williams’ 10 rebounds, the Flames were out-rebounded by the Quakers 42-29. Tim Begley led Penn with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jan Fikiel added 10 points for Penn, which fell to 0-6 on the road.
”Give credit to UIC,” Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. “Jimmy’s done a good job, and that kid, Banks is a tough nut. I like their team, they play real hard. They just decided it was time to win the game.”
The Flames have the week off from game action before hosting Cleveland State on Saturday night.
PHYSICAL PENN: The Quakers proved that the Ivy League can be known for more than its brains. Penn committed 22 fouls to UIC’s eight – and the disparity could have easily been more if the officials were not as lenient.
“We weren’t surprised by their physicality,” Collins said. “We saw them on film and we knew they’ve had a tough grind.”
At one point late in the first half, Williams seen talking to one of the officials: “There’s a lot of holding going on.”
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Cedrick Banks’ jump shot isn’t falling like it has in the past several seasons, but the UIC senior guard found a way to lead his team to victory in other ways on Saturday.
Poole (pictured) was also inspired on offense, tallying 14 points on 6-of-11 from the field. Point guard Rocky Collum put together his second straight solid outing, scoring 12 points, including 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, and accumulating five assists and three steals.