Men’s basketball drops matches
Kelsey Barlow scored a game-high 31 points versus SMU Wednesday. Photo: Timothy Nguyen
The men’s basketball team (3-6) lost two matches last week, versus SMU, 73-65, Wednesday and against Loyola, 73-70, Saturday.
UIC takes the week off for finals before heading to Cape Girardeau, Mo., to battle Southeast Missouri State (7-2) Saturday.
The Flames let a two-point halftime lead slip through their fingers against Loyola. Junior guard Marc Brown paced UIC with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while senior Hayden Humes poured in a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds, hitting 6-of-8 from the floor.
“We struggled getting the defensive stops we needed down the stretch and that really hurt us,” said head coach Howard Moore. “I though Marc and Hayden gave us good production on the offensive end, but we need to tighten up the screws defensively.”
UIC led for a good portion of the first half and by the 11:22 mark held an eight-point edge over the Ramblers. Loyola regained the lead until the Flames closed out the first period on a 7-2 run to go in front 39-37.
Loyola controlled the lead during the last half of the second period, but the Flames found hope after senior Kelsey Barlow converted a three-point play with 11 seconds remaining to come within two points of the lead. After Loyola’s Christian Thomas missed the back end of two fouls shots, Barlow attempted a last-second three that bounced off the rim as time expired.
The Flames came back from a 12-0 deficit to tie the contest at 41 in the second half Wednesday versus SMU but lost at the UIC Pavilion. Barlow scored a game-high 31 points and corralled a team-high six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
Humes and sophomore Gabe Snider chipped in eight points and two three-pointers apiece.
The Flames committed a season-low eight turnovers, but struggled from the field, going 20-of-57 (35.1 percent ). UIC did find points at the free throw line, hitting 17-of-21 (81 percent).
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