Dec. 22, 2009
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio- Despite five Flames scoring in double figures, the UIC men's basketball team could not overcome a late first-half drought and a big Akron rebounding effort led by Jimmy Conyers in a 77-65 loss to the Zips at Rhodes Arena on Tuesday night.
Zavion Neely scored a game-high 16 points, while Robo Kreps added 13 for the Flames (3-7), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Jeremy Buttell and Brad Birton scored 10 points apiece, while freshman Corey Gray came off the bench to score a career-high 11.
Brett McKnight scored 16 and Conyers had a double-double of 10 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for Akron (8-3).
Conyers' effort on the glass helped the Zips outrebound the Flames 42-25, including a 15-6 advantage on the offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points for Akron.
"Rebounding was the key," said UIC head coach Jimmy Collins. "[Conyers] was a man among boys tonight. He was the difference, and we didn't have anyone to match his intensity."
The Flames led by as many as five in the opening period and nursed a 24-23 lead at the 5:37 mark when the offensive well went dry. UIC went over five minutes without scoring, allowing Akron to go on an 11-0 run that put the hosts up 34-24 until Gray hit a deep three with 34.6 seconds on the clock to end the drought.
Akron outscored UIC 13-3 to end the half and take a nine-point advantage into intermission.
Coming out of the break the Flames went on a 9-4 spurt to get within four of the Zips, but Akron's hot second-half shooting began at that point. The Zips started a 14-5 burst to push their lead to 13 and finished the second period shooting 53.8 percent (14-for-26) from the floor to never look back.
UIC could not stop the close-range Akron attack. The Zips went 22-for-39 (56.4 percent) from inside the three-point arc, tallied 34 points in the paint and shot 27 free throws.
Collins didn't let his backcourt off the hook despite the point production and the lack of rebounding up front.
"Guards spark intensity, and that intensity stayed at home tonight," said Collins. "Our guard play really hurt us. We had 10 turnovers by halftime, and all 10 were committed by our guards."
Gray was a bright spot for the Flames, as the 5-10 rookie guard hit three treys in 18 reserve minutes for a career night.
"Corey was a positive," Collins said. "He had swagger out there. He took some ill-advised shots, but he took some shots that he had confidence going in, and they did."
UIC will be off until this Sunday, December 27 when the Flames go to Madison, Wis. to face the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center. The game begins at 2:30 p.m. Central and will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
Fans can listen to podcasts featuring exclusive interviews with UIC head coaches, staff and student-athletes in two ways:
1. Download the free UIC Athletics Widget and click on the "UIC Flames Podcasts" link
2. Download podcasts for free on iTunes by searching "UIC Flames."
Fans wishing to learn more about affordable and flexible UIC ticket plans are encouraged to call 312-413-UIC1 or visit www.uicflames.com and click on the "Tickets" tab on the Flames home page.
