Bowen blossoms in D-League

EX-FLAME NOW STARTS IN AUSTIN

(3/28/07)

Photo: Rob Freeman/Chicago Flame Former Flame Justin Bowen is playing for his NBA dream with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. He has averaged 13.8 points in his last eight games.

Former Flames forward Justin Bowen has been tasting success in the NBA Development League recently.

Bowen, a 6-foot-7 swingman, who was UIC’s leading scorer in 2005-06, has played well in recent weeks with the Austin Toros and has earned a starting spot on the team. He has upped his season averages to 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

However, in the Toros’ last eight games, Bowen has really been impressive, averaging 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game – and he has started Austin’s last five contests. He has hit double figures in scoring in seven of his last eight outings.

Bowen’s top game came on March 24 at the Ft. Worth Flyers when he posted a career-best 19 points on 6-for-14 shooting and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds (eight offensive). He also drained a three-pointer and went 6-for-9 from the free-throw line.

Bowen also had a solid game against the Arkansas Rimrockers on March 20 with 13 points, eight rebounds and a personal-best six assists.

The three-year Flames’ letterwinner is also getting some face time on TV. Bowen’s 13-point, six-rebound effort against Ft. Worth from March 23 will be replayed on NBA TV this Sunday, April 1 at 2:30 p.m. Central time.

BOYD’S SEASON WRAPS UP

UIC recruit Tori Boyd’s season ended when Rockford Boylan was eliminated by Stevenson in the IHSA Class AA quarterfinals nearly two weeks ago.

Boyd had just seven points on 3-for-9 from the field and seven rebounds in the Titans’ 57-41 loss on March 16. However, it was just a small damper on an outstanding senior campaign for the 6-foot-5-inch, 200-pound forward.

Boyd averaged 16.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the 28-4 Titans. He shot 54 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range and 72 percent from the free-throw line.

He twice scored a season-high 35 points, including in a sectional finals victory over Rock Falls on March 9. He also poured in 35 against Machesney Park Harlem on Feb. 23. Boyd grabbed a season-best 17 rebounds in regional finals victory over Burlington Central on March 3.

Boyd was named Second-Team All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. He also was named Special Mention All-State by the Chicago Tribune and Honorable Mention All-State by the Associated Press. Fellow UIC recruit Robert Kreps from Class A champion Maroa-Forsyth was also Special Mention All-State in the Chicago Tribune.

To cap his season, Boyd finished second in the IHSA slam dunk contest.

BUTLER SWEET AGAIN

Whoosh! photo Butler guard A.J. Graves was a driving force behind the Bulldogs’ Sweet 16 run. He will return for one more season.

The Horizon League was well represented by Butler, which reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in the last five seasons. The Bulldogs were the third Horizon League team to get to the regional semifinals in that time period, along with the 2005 UW-Milwaukee squad.

Butler defeated Old Dominion and Maryland en route before falling to defending NCAA champion Florida in a slugfest, 65-57, last Friday. The Bulldogs, who led by as many as nine points, were led by junior forward Pete Campbell’s 14 points.

Butler will probably be considered the favorite to win the conference next season with guards A.J. Graves, Mike Green and forwards Julian Betko and Campbell returning to the squad.

Wright State fell in its opening round NCAA tournament game, 79-58, to Pittsburgh on March 15. Senior guard DaShaun Wood had 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists in his final college game.