Flames get 20th victory

(3/02/03)

Despite a slow start on “Senior Night,” UIC routed Youngstown State 73-47 at the Pavilion Saturday night.

Led by seniors Jonathan Schneiderman and Kyle Kickert, the Flames improved to 20-7 overall and finish up 12-4 in Horizon League play. Schneiderman (pictured) tied for team-high honors in scoring with junior Cedrick Banks with 14 points, while Kickert narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Junior point guard Martell Bailey dished out a season-high 13 assists with just one turnover in 32 minutes of action. The Flames had 22 assists as a team.

The game was tied at 13-13 with 7:58 left in the first half before UIC went on a 17-6 run to end the half. Aaron Carr, Bailey and Banks each hit three-pointers as the Flames opened a 30-21 halftime advantage.

UIC used a 24-5 spurt early in the second half to put the game away, which concluded with two threes by Schneiderman.

The Flames shot 45 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range, but just 41 percent (11-of-27) from the free-throw line. YSU shot just 28 percent for the game.

The Flames started all three of their seniors—Schneiderman, Kickert and walk-on Corry Tibbs—four-year junior Jabari Harris.

Carr tweeked his right Achilles’ tendon early in the second half, but returned later and hit a three-pointer with 3:21 left.

Doug Underwood led Youngstown State (8-19, 4-12) with 17 points.

FALL OUT: The victory gave UIC consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in school history and sets up a second-round at the Horizon League tournament Friday night against the winner of Tuesday’s Youngstown State-Wisconsin-Green Bay game.