Feb 18, 2004
Box Score
ASHWAUBENON, Wis. (AP) - Cedrick Banks scored 18 points and Martell Bailey had 14 as Illinois-Chicago won its seventh straight game with a 63-55 victory over cold-shooting Wisconsin-Green Bay Wednesday night in a battle for second place in the Horizon League.
The Flames (19-7, 10-4) beat the Phoenix (16-8, 10-4) for the eighth time in the last nine games, including the last six.
The victory also gives the Flames the edge over the Phoenix for a guaranteed bye until the semifinals of the conference tournament in March.
Joe Scott had 10 points and Elliott Poole had 12 rebounds as the Flames outrebounded the Phoenix 49-26.
Kevin Hughes and Javier Mendiburu each scored 11 points to lead the Phoenix, which finished 29.1 percent (16 of 55) from the floor.
Illinois-Chicago used a 14-4 run over the end of the first half and early in the second half to take a 37-25 lead on Banks' 3-pointer from the corner.
Mendiburu's 3-pointer with 3:07 remaining closed the Phoenix to 52-47, but Aaron Carr made one of two free throws, Armond Williams had a tip-in and Bailey sank both ends of a bonus as the Flames stretched their lead to 57-47 with 1:17 remaining.
Bailey ignited a 9-4 run in the final 2:44 of the first half with a 3-pointer and put the Flames ahead 32-25 at the intermission by drilling a jumper with 32 seconds left.
