 "Photo: Chicago Flame File Photo")
The Flames (1-0) started their 2009-10 campaign beating up on their sister school, UIS (0-1), Saturday 72-59 at the Pavilion.
The shorthanded Flames hit the hardwood without seniors Jeremy Buttell and Kris Harris who were each serving one-game suspensions for violating team rules. Only one starter from last year's season opener returned in the form of Junior Forsyth, Ill. guard Robo Kreps.
The Flames began the first half flopping on offense. Only K.C. "Cleanup Man" Robbins's second chance buckets kept the game close. He finished with 12 points and 13 boards in the first double-double of the season.
Defensively, the Flames opened with a 2-3 zone, and UIS didn't know what hit them.
"Against Lewis we played man-to-man because I believe if you play good man-to-man you'll play an even better zone," said head coach Jimmy Collins, "so we've been working on both aspects of our defense. They were quicker in some positions, and I didn't want to take a chance on getting behind and having to play catchup."
However, the Prairie Stars were definitely not shooting stars as airball after airball was the foundation for a poor 5-28 shooting from the field. UIS couldn't find the basket with a MapQuest printout, and UIC cruised into the half with the comfort of a 33-19 lead.
Continuing in the same direction in the second half, UIS's shooting only picked up slightly, but the Prairie Stars cut the Flames' lead down to 10 before a Zavion Neely steal and solo break sparked a 9-0 UIC run. The sophomore guard led all scorers with 19 points.
Robo Kreps scored a quick 5 of his 16 points during the run. Captain Kreps led the ship with 6 assists. UIC ran away with the game, and at one point, everything was falling for the Flames. UIC kept the lead the entire 40 minutes, and threw this win in the bag early in the competition.
"I was very pleased with the outcome," said coach Collins, "We've got a young team, and we kind of throw them together, but the guys that played responded in a very positive way."
One of those guys that played was sophomore guard Zavion Neely, who got the starting job from Kris Harris's suspension.
"[Zavion] is the guy on our team who can get to the basket better than anyone on the team," said Collins, "Unlike last year, he can go to the basket and finish. He's stronger and his confidence has rose."
"Coach always talks about opportunity and making the best of what other teams give you, so coming into the season people are looking at Robo and how he's playing, but we're going to need that other person to step up," said Neely.
The Flames also got a good showing from the "Cleanup Man" K.C. Robbins, who robbed every offensive board in the contest.
"We talked about playing tougher, and K.C. being the player that he would be," said coach Collins, "and if we get consistency from him, we're an awfully tough team to beat."
The Flames return to the Pavilion on Monday, November 23, to face the Illinois State Redbirds at 7p.m. before traveling to Mount Pleasant, Michigan for a tough interconference matchup with Central Michigan.
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