2008 Woodie Awards
Racer redemption
Second half surge lifts Flames past Murray State in rematch of last year's Bracketbuster
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Sports
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Robert Bush extends for a rebound. The junior guard finished the night with 12 points, including a late three-pointer that gave UIC the lead.
After shooting just 26 percent from the field against Murray State in the first half of the men's basketball game at the UIC Pavilion last Tuesday, the Flames emerged from halftime an entirely new squad. UIC held Witherspoon to a single basket in the second period en route to a 74-68 victory over the Racers after allowing Murray State star Shawn Witherspoon to score 17 points in the first 20 minutes.
Keyed by the leadership of freshman point guard Spencer Stewart, the hot shooting off the bench from Robert Bush and T.J. Gray, the shot-blocking of Scott Vandermeer, and the intensity of Othyus Jeffers, the Flames erased an 11-point first half deficit by making 58 percent of their shots in the latter half.
"In the second [half] we started playing defense, and guys got out and pushed them right into big Scott," said head coach Jimmy Collins. "[Scott] was able to deter guys and we were able to get steals. I was really proud of the way we did that. I can't say enough about the job Spencer did running the ball club on both ends of the ball, offensively and defensively."
Despite resting sweet-shooting sophomore guard Josh Mayo and his strained left Achilles tendon for the third straight game, the Flames scored 47 points in the second half, giving them their third win of the young season and igniting a raucous Pavilion crowd.
Beginning the second half in a 38-27 hole, UIC went on an 11-5 run, bringing the game within five points. The Racers extended their lead back to double digits, but the Flames fought back again.
Gray hit two straight three-pointers from well beyond the arc and created a steal that led to an easy Jeffers lay-up to bring the game within three points with five minutes remaining.
Jeffers, who led the team with 16 points and 9 rebounds, would put the score at 63-62 after making one of two free throws.
A defensive stop by the Flames followed, and Bush, who finished the game with 12 points, drained a three, giving UIC the lead for the first time since early in the first half. Junior guard Karl White then stripped the ball from Murray State and finished the play with a slam-dunk, erupting the fans, as Coach Collins ran to greet his team following a Racer timeout.
Murray State guard Bruce Carter hit a three-point basket with 20.2 seconds left in the game, but White sunk three of four free throws in the last 19 ticks to seal a victory for the Flames.
Vandermeer posted his most impressive game yet with four blocks and 11 points, and Stewart played all 20 minutes of the second half, tallying 12 points.
"It was certainly a team effort," added Collins.
After a Horizon League contest against Youngstown State at the Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 2, the Flames travel to DeKalb on Tuesday to meet Northern Illinois University, before their big showdown Saturday, Dec. 9 at the United Center against the Fighting Illini.
This will mark the first time the two U of I teams have played since 2003, when Champaign won 75-60. The Flames are 1-11 all-time against the Illini, for whom Coach Collins was an assistant for 13 years.
The game begins at 1 p.m. and will be televised on WCIU.
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Keyed by the leadership of freshman point guard Spencer Stewart, the hot shooting off the bench from Robert Bush and T.J. Gray, the shot-blocking of Scott Vandermeer, and the intensity of Othyus Jeffers, the Flames erased an 11-point first half deficit by making 58 percent of their shots in the latter half.
"In the second [half] we started playing defense, and guys got out and pushed them right into big Scott," said head coach Jimmy Collins. "[Scott] was able to deter guys and we were able to get steals. I was really proud of the way we did that. I can't say enough about the job Spencer did running the ball club on both ends of the ball, offensively and defensively."
Despite resting sweet-shooting sophomore guard Josh Mayo and his strained left Achilles tendon for the third straight game, the Flames scored 47 points in the second half, giving them their third win of the young season and igniting a raucous Pavilion crowd.
Beginning the second half in a 38-27 hole, UIC went on an 11-5 run, bringing the game within five points. The Racers extended their lead back to double digits, but the Flames fought back again.
Gray hit two straight three-pointers from well beyond the arc and created a steal that led to an easy Jeffers lay-up to bring the game within three points with five minutes remaining.
Jeffers, who led the team with 16 points and 9 rebounds, would put the score at 63-62 after making one of two free throws.
A defensive stop by the Flames followed, and Bush, who finished the game with 12 points, drained a three, giving UIC the lead for the first time since early in the first half. Junior guard Karl White then stripped the ball from Murray State and finished the play with a slam-dunk, erupting the fans, as Coach Collins ran to greet his team following a Racer timeout.
Murray State guard Bruce Carter hit a three-point basket with 20.2 seconds left in the game, but White sunk three of four free throws in the last 19 ticks to seal a victory for the Flames.
Vandermeer posted his most impressive game yet with four blocks and 11 points, and Stewart played all 20 minutes of the second half, tallying 12 points.
"It was certainly a team effort," added Collins.
After a Horizon League contest against Youngstown State at the Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 2, the Flames travel to DeKalb on Tuesday to meet Northern Illinois University, before their big showdown Saturday, Dec. 9 at the United Center against the Fighting Illini.
This will mark the first time the two U of I teams have played since 2003, when Champaign won 75-60. The Flames are 1-11 all-time against the Illini, for whom Coach Collins was an assistant for 13 years.
The game begins at 1 p.m. and will be televised on WCIU.
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