Nov. 19, 2006
Box Score
Peoria, Ill. - For the second straight game, the UIC men's basketball team ran into a hot shooting team on its home floor as host Bradley connected on 12 three-pointers and shot 50 percent from the field in an 81-72 win over the Flames in front of 8,860 at Carver Arena.
Junior guard Jeremy Crouch and senior post Zach Andrews did most of the damage for the Braves (3-0). Crouch connected on seven three-pointers en route to a career-best 29 points, while Andrews tabbed a double-double with career highs of 26 points and 15 rebounds.
The loss spoiled another strong offensive output for UIC (1-2). Sophomore Josh Mayo led the way with a team-high 16 points. Junior T.J. Gray scored 14 points, while Kevin Bond (10 points, 6 rebounds) and Karl White (11 points, 3 steals) also reached double-figures in scoring.
Junior Othyus Jeffers pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds. Sophomore Scott VanderMeer, who got the starting nod at center, totaled a season-high eight boards.
UIC and Bradley traded runs in the opening 20 minutes with the Flames using 12 different players en route to a 37-37 tie at intermission.
The two squads traded the lead back and forth over the first five minutes of the second half with UIC holding a 49-48 lead with 15:07 left on a triple by Gray.
That would be the Flames' last lead, though, as a 14-4 Bradley run, capped by back-to-back three-pointer from Crouch, over the next five minutes gave the Braves a nine-point cushion they would never relinquish.
The contest was the first game for both teams in the inaugural Chicago Invitational Challenge.
UIC, now 1-2 on the year after its second consecutive blemish to an NCAA Tournament team from last season, will now continue on in the event with a road game at Miami (OH) on Nov. 21. The Braves, who moved to a perfect 3-0 on the season, will host Florida A&M on Tuesday.
Note: UIC senior Danijel Zoric has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the men's basketball team for personal reasons.
