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No paradise on the court for UIC FLAMES LOSE AGAIN, FALL TO SHOCKERS November 20, 2007
Unfortunately for the Flames, their weekend in paradise didn’t translate onto the court as Wichita State took a 67-60 victory over UIC in the seventh-place game on Monday afternoon. The Flames (2-3) have lost three straight after two impressive home victories to start the season. A combination of lackluster defense, poor rebounding and subpar shooting was the key to Monday’s loss. P.J. Cousinard led four Shockers (2-2) in double figures with 15 points. Wichita State scored 38 points in the paint, often getting easy layups. The Shockers shot 49 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Flames 35-27. Karl White Jr. and Jeremy Buttell led UIC with 13 points apiece. Scott VanderMeer added 10 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Josh Mayo, however, had a season-low eight points in 35 minutes as the Flames shot just 39 percent from the field. Despite their faults, the Flames still had a shot for the victory at the end of the game. After trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, UIC fought back in the final minutes to make it close. Cousinard’s three-pointer put Wichita State up 59-49 with 4:33 remaining, but the Flames went on a 10-4 run that included a three-pointer by Robert Kreps and was capped by a three by Spencer Stewart to pull them within 63-59 with 1:37 to play. In the next minute with UIC poised to get closer, Mayo, whose consecutive free-throw streak was snapped at 38 on Friday, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 from the foul line. Stewart then got a steal and was fouled going to the basket, but he only split a pair from the line to cut the score to 63-60. Wichita State’s Gal Mekel (six points, six assists) finished off the Flames with four consecutive free throws in the final half-minute. UIC will have eight days off from competition before playing at Central Michigan on Nov. 28. FLAMES FLICKERS: Sophomore forward Tori Boyd did not play after getting an inadvertent elbow to the head during practice on Sunday. Flames’ radio announcer Adam Levinson said before the game that Boyd “woke up with a splitting headache.” … VanderMeer continues to re-write almost every blocked shot record. His 11 blocked shots in three games in the tournament is a new record for total blocks in a single tournament. The old mark of 10 was shared by Dimari Thompkins of Virgina Tech in 2002 and Steven Hill of Arkansas in 2004. … Buttell matched his Flames’ career-high with his 13 points. … One positive for the Flames: They only committed eight turnovers – their fewest of the season. PARADISE JAM RESULTS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 FIRST ROUND Georgia Tech 82, Charlotte 77 Winthrop 72, UIC 58 Baylor 64, Wichita State 55 Notre Dame 76, Monmouth 33 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 CONSOLATION Charlotte 64, UIC 63 Monmouth 59, Wichita State 50 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 SEMIFINALS Winthrop 79, Georgia Tech 73 Baylor 68, Notre Dame 64 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 FINAL ROUND Wichita State (7th) 67, UIC (8th) 60 Monmouth 58 (4th), Charlotte (6th) 56 Georgia Tech (3rd) 70, Notre Dame 69 (5th) Baylor (champ) 62, Winthrop (2nd) 54 |
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