Flames stifle Milwaukee at home
Senior guard Anthony Kelley scored a career-high 10 points. Photo: Steve Woltmann
The men’s basketball team completed a spirited comeback Wednesday, holding Milwaukee to just eight second-half points in a 60-50 win at the Pavilion.
The eight points scored in the second half is a UIC Pavilion defensive record.
Overall, UIC improved to 12-8 (3-4 Horizon League).
“I’m really proud of the guys and the effort that they showed in the second half,” head coach Howard Moore said. “I like the fight we had, and it came from a lot of different people. This was a tremendous team win.
Senior point guard Gary Talton led all scorers with 14 points. He was joined in double figures by sophomore guard Joey Miller (12 points) and sophomore center Will Simonton (career-high 10). Senior forward Anthony Kelley scored a career-high 10 points and career-best 11 rebounds.
UIC trailed, 42-25, at intermission after Milwaukee converted eight threes and shot 48.4 percent from the field. Simonton scored six first-half points for UIC in 13 minutes. Junior forward Hayden Humes and senior center Josh Crittle were limited to 10 minutes of action after each picked up two fouls.
UIC’s defensive adjustments, which included a mix of zone and full-court pressure, were on display early in the second half. Milwaukee led by 17 points (46-29) with less than 16 minutes remaining, but UIC went on a 11-0 run over the next five minutes, pulling within 46-40.
The Panthers reclaimed a 50-41 advantage, but UIC did not allow Milwaukee to score a single point in the final 9:39.
The Flames claimed their first advantage of the second half with less than two minutes remaining after Talton drilled a three-pointer from the left wing. He followed with a scoop-and-score on the ensuing possession, extending the Flames’ lead to 54-40 with 37 seconds left.
Talton and Kelley combined to go 4-for-4 from the free throw line down the stretch.
The Flames look to capture their first Horizon League road win of the season Saturday, traveling to Ohio to take on Wright State at 6 p.m.
