Backups get their chance as Flames whip CSU

UIC EMPTIES THE BENCH EARLY

(1/18/04)

The UIC starters did so well in the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s game against Cleveland State at the Pavilion, they didn’t see much action again until the second half.

No matter, the Flames’ bench took over where the starters left off in an 83-68 demolition of the Vikings.

UIC (12-6 overall, 3-3 Horizon League) went on a 17-0 run, which included seven points from Joe Scott and was capped by an alley-oop dunk by Armond Williams, to open a 29-10 lead with 13:03 left in the first half.

Then the UIC’s reserves – mostly junior center Josip Petrusic (pictured), senior guard Rickey Dominguez, and freshman swingman Jovan Stefanov – took over the rest of the first half.

“I wanted to get off to a fast start,” UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. “We had an opportunity to get some of these guys into the game. We wanted to get more of these guys a chance to push the others.”

UIC led 54-27 at half after shooting 61 percent from the field. Banks led the starters with 13 first-half points, while Dominguez led the bench with eight points, including two three-pointers.

“We were very crisp in the first half,” Collins said. “We were able to move the basketball, and I saw guys passing up shots to get better shots. That’s what team play is about.”

For the game, Petrusic had eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, which ranged from layups to a 15-foot jumper.

“I just wanted to take advantage of my chance to play,” Petrusic said. “I concentrated on rebounding and playing defense. When you play hard on defense, offensive comes naturally. Everybody did a good job of executing Coach’s ideas.”

Dominguez ended up with eight points for the game and Stefanov scored six points on 6-of-10 free throws as UIC’s bench outscored CSU 32-15. Stefanov also had three assists and three rebounds.

“It gave me a chance to play with them instead of against them in practice,” said point guard Martell Bailey, who had eight assists and played a few minutes with the reserves. “They did a good job of playing with me, and I did a good job of looking for them.”

Overall, Banks led the Flames with 17 points on 6-of-13 from the field. Williams and Bailey each added 11 points.

Jermaine Robinson scored a career-best 27 points to lead Cleveland State (4-12, 0-5), which lost its 10th straight game. The Vikings were playing without injured center Pape Badiane and academically ineligible Walt Waters and Percell Coles.

The Flames were able to keep athletic forward Omari Westley in check, limiting him to just 12 points and seven rebounds.

“Coach Collins and his staff did a tremendous job of stopping Omari,” CSU coach Mike Garland said. “Up until this game, there’s been no one in this league that’s been able to contain him.”

After UIC’s initial run, the Vikings never got closer than 14 points the rest of the way. The Flames led by as many as 28.

“We were able to muster up an effort,” Garland said. “Our defense has been costing us games.”

MID-SEASON WHOOSH! COMING: A mid-season edition of the print Whoosh! will be inserted in the Jan. 20 issue of the Chicago Flame, which will be distributed around campus and neighborhood establishments.

The issue will feature Flames forward Armond Williams, notes about Justin Bowen, Martell Bailey, Jovan Stefanov, and an update on UIC signee Karl White, a half-way report, Horizon League update, and a brand-new Coach’s Corner.