University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Illinois - Chicago
Illinois-Chicago Defeats UNI, 70-58
2/23/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2008
Cedar Falls, Iowa -
Despite a career-high 26 points from senior center Eric Coleman, the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team fell 70-58 to Illinois-Chicago Saturday night at the McLeod Center.
Coleman connected on 8-of-16 shots from the field, and was 10-for-12 at the free throw line. He also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, giving him his 12th double-double of the season. Junior guard Carlton Reed game off the bench to score a season-best 13 points, while also dishing out four assists. UIC had four players in double-figures, led by guard Robert Bush who had 16 points.
The Flames jumped out to a 7-2 lead to start the game. UNI pulled within 12-9 after a three-pointer from Reed, but UIC went on a 9-1 run, capped by a three-pointer from Kreps, to push its lead to 21-10 with 9:50 left in the first half. The Flames led by as many as 12 in the first half (25-13), but powered by Coleman's 16 first-half points, got within five, 32-27, with just under three minutes remaining before intermission. However, UIC ended the half on a 9-2 run, going into the locker room with a 41-29 advantage.
UIC held a double-digit lead for the first eight minutes of the second half, but a Reed three-pointers followed by a Dunham layup got UNI within eight, 48-40, with just over 12 minutes left, but UIC's Josh Mayo nailed a three-pointer on the next possession to put the Flames back up by 11. UNI got within nine, 57-48, with 7:30 left, and had the ball twice with a chance to cut into the lead further, but both times had three-pointers rim out. UNI got within seven (61-54) with two and half minutes left, but once again missed a trey that would have cut the lead to four. UIC then made its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
UIC shot 52 percent from the field for the game, and was 8-for-16 from three-point range. UNI shot just 38 percent from the floor, 3-for-21 on three-pointers. UIC also won the battle of rebounding, 35-27.
Tonight's game was a part of O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters. UIC improved to 15-13 with the win, while UNI fell to 15-13. The Panthers return to Missouri Valley Conference play on Wednesday (Feb. 27), playing host to Indiana State. Tipoff from the McLeod Center is set for 7:05 pm.
