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Time runs out on Flames’ season UIC PROVIDES GUTSY EFFORT BUT FALLS SHORT March 3, 2010
Milwaukee’s 6-foot-7, 310-pound forward James Eayrs lived up to his nickname, scoring his team’s final seven points and grabbing two critical offensive rebounds in the final two minutes as the Panthers eliminated the Flames 73-67 in the opening round of the Horizon League tournament at U.S. Cellular. UIC (8-22) trailed by nine points with 4:10 left but rallied within 66-65 with just over a minute to play. Eayrs, who also had some key rebounds in Milwaukee’s 78-74 win last Saturday at the Pavilion, grabbed an offensive rebound on the Panthers’ next possession and converted it into a three-point play and a four-point lead with 1:03 to go. “We knew that we had to keep Eayrs off the offensive glass, because a few days ago, he beat us on the offensive glass,” UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. “It was like déjŕ vu. He did the same thing again.” After Zavion Neely’s layup cut the score to 69-67 with 23.2 seconds left, the Flames fouled Ja’Rob McCallum on purpose. McCallum missed both free throw attempts, but Eayrs came up with another offensive rebound. He nailed two back-breaking free throws moments later. “I was just trying to make a winning play,” said Eayrs, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. “The ball just kind of bounced my way and I just went up and got it.” Eayrs hit two more free throws in the final seconds to help Milwaukee (19-13) officially snuff out the Flames’ season. The Panthers finished with a 47-34 rebounding advantage. “Almost like the season has been, the ball seemed to bounce the other way at the end of the game,” said UIC junior guard Robo Kreps, who finished with a game-high 20 points. “We had a few rebounds that we didn’t grab. The ball just ended up in their hands somehow. That obviously hurt us.” UIC had its opportunities to pull off the upset. The first half looked very promising as senior Chris Buchanan helped to stoke the Flames to an 18-8 lead with seven early points. Neely also had five points in the game-opening burst.
Milwaukee made a run, but Kreps scored five quick points to boost UIC’s lead back to 23-15 with 8:19 left in the first half. The Panthers took their first lead of game on Jerard Ajami’s two free throws with 55 seconds left before the break. Kreps hit a 15-foot jumper on the Flames’ next possession to forge a 35-35 halftime tie. Milwaukee senior Ricky Franklin, who battled foul trouble all night, scored five straight points to open the second half. The Panthers eventually built their lead up to 59-50 with 7:41 left on Lonnie Boga’s three-point play. The Flames tried to crawl back, but Boga hit a three-pointer with 4:10 remaining to put the lead up to 65-56. UIC went on a 9-1 run to close back within 66-65 with 1:28 left. Neely capped the spurt with two free throws after a clutch steal, but that was as close the Flames would get. A factor in Milwaukee’s victory was its penchant to get to the free-throw line, making 28-for-38. The Flames were just 12-for-17. Collins was not pleased with the foul situation after the game where UIC was called for 28 fouls while Milwaukee had just 19. Three Flames were disqualified including senior forward Jeremy Buttell, junior center K.C. Robbins and Neely. “I thought we did a good job of getting them in trouble, but anytime you lose (three) players (to fouls), it’s tough,” Collins said. “Maybe we were too aggressive. They shot twice as many free throws as we did. We probably did too much reaching. Trying to make adjustments to the officials wasn’t all that much fun.” Neely wrapped up his sophomore season with 13 points. Buttell scored 12 in his final game as Flame while Buchanan capped his UIC career with 11 points. Spencer Stewart had five assists and three steals and Kris Harris added a rebound and an assist in their final collegiate games. Three players finished with 12 points for the Panthers, including Eayrs, Boga and Anthony Hill. Jason Averkamp added 10 points and Franklin ended up with nine points for Milwaukee. “The law of averages was definitely against us tonight, playing them for third time (after beating them twice),” Jeter said. “For us to survive a game with 21 turnovers … I’m proud of the group effort.” Collins gave both teams credit for a competitive game. “I was pleased with the effort,” Collins said. “Milwaukee has got a very good basketball team, from top to bottom. They’re big and aggressive and they shoot it from all positions.” FLAMES FLICKERS: UIC had a season-high 15 steals, including four apiece by Kreps and Neely. The mark was just three short of the Horizon tournament single-game record of 18 by Oklahoma City against Loyola in 1981. … Kreps ended the season with 1,105 career points and now resides in 16th place all-time just nine points behind Jordan Kardos (1998-2002). … Stewart ended his UIC career with 420 assists, good enough for fourth all-time and is sandwiched between Kenny Williams (487) and Josh Mayo (371). … Collins is now 15-12 in league tournament games with two titles and one runner-up finish. He has lost in the opening round just four times in 14 seasons. … The Flames ended the campaign with a school-record 22 losses. 2010 HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE TUESDAY, MARCH 2 OPENING ROUND (at campus sites) #3 Green Bay 81, #10 Youngstown State 67 #7 Detroit 89, #6 Valparaiso 82 #4 Milwaukee 73, #9 UIC 67 #5 Cleveland State 80, #8 Loyola 66 FRIDAY, MARCH 5 SECOND ROUND (at Butler) Green Bay (21-11) vs. Detroit (19-13), 5 Milwaukee (19-13) vs. Cleveland State (16-16), 7 SATURDAY, MARCH 6 SEMIFINALS (at Butler) Green Bay/Detroit winner vs. #2 Wright State (19-11), 4:15 Milwaukee/ Cleveland State winner at #1 Butler (26-4), 7 TUESDAY, MARCH 9 CHAMPIONSHIP (at highest remaining seed) Semifinal winners, 8 |
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