Jan. 6, 2005

CHICAGO (AP) - Armond Williams led a late UIC rally as the Flames lost an early lead, then came back for a 64-58 Horizon League victory over Loyola of Chicago Thursday night.

The Flames (6-7, 2-2) took an early 10-nothing lead as Loyola failed to score until Majak Kou hit a short jumper with 13:39 left.

Kou then scored 12 points for Loyola before intermission as the Ramblers (3-10, 1-2) took a 23-22 halftime lead.

The Flames dominated the early going in the second half and led 38-33 when Blake Schilb hit 11 straight points for Loyola, including three 3-pointers in a row. UIC managed only one free throw in that stretch, which ended with Loyola holding a 44-39 lead.

The Ramblers were up 50-41 with seven minutes left, when Williams led a 14-2 run that put UIC on top 55-52.

Schilb tied the game with another 3-pointer with 2:17 left, but Elliott Poole added a field goal and two free throws, while Jovan Stefanov put in a short jumper to give the Flames a 61-55 margin with less than a minute left.

Kou scored Loyola's final points on a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left, but the Flames padded the lead with three free throws in the closing seconds.

Williams finished with 14 points, while Stefanov had 13 to lead the Flames. Schilb had 19 for Loyola, with Kou adding 15.