Flames win ugly

LATE RUN SAVES SLOPPY GAME

(11/11/04)

Hopefully, the UIC Flames have gotten the first game jitters out of the way.

With five new faces making their debuts and three new starters, UIC struggled with NAIA Robert Morris of Downtown Chicago for 33 minutes, but a late run fueled by the reliable Cedrick Banks picked up the Flames in a 74-61 victory at the Pavilion Wednesday night.

“We’ve got to do a lot things better,” UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. “That’s why we have [exhibition] games like this at the beginning of the year. It will give us an opportunity to watch these guys on film and teach them”

Banks led the Flames with 24 points, including 17 in the second half, to go with four three-pointers. Jovan Stefanov, in a starting role, contributed a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds – most of his production came in the second half.

“Jovan did some really good things,” Collins said. “I thought he played too nervous in the first half.”

Justin Bowen, buoyed by a strong first half, finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Robert Morris led 52-50 with 8:52 left in the contest, but the Flames went on a 22-5 spurt to seize control.

Elliott Poole, another of the new starters, scored on a layup to tie the game at 52-52 with 7:25 left. Bowen hit a short jumper to put UIC ahead by two, then Poole poked the ball away and scored on a layup off a give-and-go with Bowen.

Banks then hit back-to-back three-pointers to put the Flames up 62-52.

For the game, UIC shot 48 percent – after hitting on just 41 percent in the first half. The Flames committed 20 turnovers, a number that coach Jimmy Collins was unhappy about.

“Twenty turnovers is too many,” Collins said. “We knew Robert Morris wouldn’t come in here and lay down.”

Marcetteaus McGee was the other new starter and handed out nine assists, but Collins was disappointed in McGee’s tentative shooting, as he went 0-for-1 in 26 minutes.

“We haven’t told him not to shoot,” Collins said. “I think he’s lacking confidence in his shot. Right now, he’s so conscious trying to run the offense.”

Collins played freshman Karl White quite a bit at the point guard position as McGee’s backup. He liked what he saw: “I liked Karl’s approach offensively. Even though Marcetteaus had nine assists, Karl did a lot of the attacking from that position.”

Robert Morris kept the game close with four first-half three-pointers as the Flames led only 34-30 at the break.

Terrance McLemore led the Eagles with 17 points and Aaron Wellington added 15 points and four three-pointers.

Collins said that the team defense needs to get sharper and that the Flames need to show more fire.

“I felt like we didn’t help and recover,” Collins said. “We did contain drivers, but when they pitched to shooters, we didn’t get back to the shooters fast enough.

“We need to improve on our intensity. I thought we started the game off with a lack of intensity. We’re trying to iron out the kinks.”

ROCKY ROAD: Collins stressed that the team missed point guard Rocky Collum, who injured his knee in practice last week.

“Rocky would have given us the stability and know-how that we needed,” Collins said Marcetteaus may get better at that as he goes, but he was a little nervous tonight.”

Collum is due back in “four to five weeks.” Collins hopes he can return by the time the Flames travel to Duke on Dec. 14.

OTHER INJURY NEWS: Despite a hand injury to Armond Williams, the forward should be able to return once he completes his degree.

Sports Information Director Mike Cassidy said that if Williams were eligible for the opener with Georgia Tech, he probably would play through the pain.

Williams currently is suffering some swelling and discomfort in his hand after running into screen set by Banks in a recent practice.

Collins said that center Josip Petrusic will be back from his knee injury around in mid-to-late December.

NEWCOMERS: Of the five newcomers that debuted for the Flames, Collins was most impressed with White and junior forward Luther Boyd.

White scored on an aggressive drive to the basket for his only two points of the game. The majority of his 14 minutes of play was at the point. He shot 1-of-3 and grabbed a rebound.

Boyd scored six points on 2-of-3 shooting and grabbed three boards in 13 minutes.

Redshirt freshman forward Kevin Bond had two points and four assists, while true freshman Robert Bush added two points and three rebounds.

Walk-on Leonard Wakefield also played three minutes.

SIGNINGS: Collins officially announced three signings Wednesday. As expected, 6-foot-9 forwards Danijel Zoric and Lance Young and 5-foot-10 guard Josh Mayo signed National Letters of Intent to play at UIC.

Zoric is currently playing in his sophomore season at Collin County Community College, averaginh 17.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games. Young and Mayo are currently preparing for their high school seasons to start at Rock Island Alleman and Merrillville (Ind.), respectively.

“This is one of the top classes we have had size-wise,” Collins said. “We think that these three guys, along with the players we have returning next year, will help us remain at the high level we have been competing at, or even take us higher.”