Lapses costly in Flames’ 1st loss

WINTHROP’S 1ST-HALF RUNS ENOUGH

November 17, 2007

File photo Winthrop’s Taj McCullough, who had a game-high 21 points, attempts a hook shot against UIC forward Jermaine Dailey.

In their first journey away from the Pavilion this season, two Flames’ dry spells in the first half cost them.

Winthrop went on runs of 12-3 and 15-2 before halftime and the Eagles cruised from there, posting a 72-58 victory over UIC in the first round of the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday afternoon.

Josh Mayo led the Flames (2-1) in scoring for the second time this season, pouring in 16 points on 3-for-8 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.

Center Scott VanderMeer had his second straight solid outing, posting 14 points and nine rebounds, while Karl White Jr. also cracked double figures with 10 points.

Taj McCullough led the Eagles (1-1) with 21 points and seven rebounds. Michael Jenkins added 13 points for Winthrop, who looked a little like its NCAA tournament team of last season.

The Flames stayed close early, even taking a 6-4 lead on a steal and layup from White, but that’s when the Eagles went on their first big run.

McCullough scored five points to spearhead a 12-3 spurt to put Winthrop on top 16-9.

UIC fought back, getting to within two points at 18-16 on VanderMeer’s jumper in the lane with 8:04 before half.

After White’s jumper pulled the Flames within 25-22 with 4:52 remaining in the period, the Eagles ripped the game open by scoring 13 straight points and 15 of the final 17 first-half points for a 40-24 advantage.

The Flames killed themselves in the final 5 minutes, missing five field-goal attempts and committing two turnovers in the span. UIC had 11 total turnovers in the first half and shot just 36 percent, while Winthrop scorched the nets at a 58 percent clip.

UIC played better in the second half, outscoring Winthrop 34-32, but could only get as a close as 10 points. Jermaine Dailey’s tip-in with 3:23 pulled the Flames within 68-58, but that was it.

The Flames drop to the consolation bracket and will play Charlotte (2-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday for the right to play in the fourth-place game on Monday.

Georgia Tech (2-1) defeated Charlotte in the opener of the day, 82-77, behind Anthony Morrow’s 19 points. Charlotte had four players in double figures, including Leemire Goldwire and An’Juan Wilderness with 17 points apiece.

In other games, Baylor beat Wichita State 64-55 and Notre Dame whipped Monmouth 76-33.

Whoosh! photo Josh Mayo set the team record for consecutive free throws in Friday’s loss to Winthrop.

FLAMES FLICKERS: Mayo hit his first nine free throw attempts of the game before missing the front-end of a 1-and-1 late in the game. The miss ended a school-record streak of 38 straight makes, which started on Feb. 21 when he made his last two freebies against Milwaukee in a 72-58 regular-season win. Mayo was then 18-for-18 in the Horizon League tournament and was 9-for-9 against Bradley before hitting his first nine against Winthrop. He breaks Bill Merchantz’s mark of 36 straight (over 10 games of the 1977-78 season). …

Since the Flames lost, their final two games will be available on the Internet only. Free audio streaming is available www.uicflames.com with Flames’ play-by-play man Adam Levinson on the call. Also, both of the remaining games will be available to watch on the on-line Pay-Per-View package for the Paradise Jam at www.WatchBTIHoops.com. …

UICFlames.com is also doing an on-line journal and photo gallery from the weekend at the Paradise Jam. …

UIC is 0-2 all-time against Charlotte. The Flames fell 79-62 in the first round of the 1998 NCAA tournament and lost 87-61 in Puerto Rico in Dec. 1999.

PARADISE JAM RESULTS/SCHEDULE (all times Central)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16

Georgia Tech 82, Charlotte 77

Winthrop 72, UIC 58

Baylor 64, Wichita State 55

Notre Dame 76, Monmouth 33

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 CONSOLATION

Charlotte vs. UIC, 5

Wichita State vs. Monmouth, 7:30

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 SEMIFINALS

Georgia Tech vs. Winthrop, 5 (Fox College Sports)

Baylor vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 (Fox College Sports)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Seventh place, noon

Fourth place, 2:30

Third place, 5 (Fox College Sports)

Championship, 7:30 (Fox College Sports)