Feb. 18, 2009
Box Score
CHICAGO- Josh Mayo made a game-tying three-pointer as regulation ended, and the UIC men's basketball team overwhelmed Wright State in overtime as the Flames defeated the Raiders, 77-66, at the UIC Pavilion on Wednesday night.
Jeremy Buttell had a double-double with career highs of 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Spencer Stewart scored 15 and handed out seven assists for UIC (13-14, 6-11 Horizon League).
Todd Brown led all scorers with 23 for Wright State (16-11, 10-6 Horizon League).
UIC led for most of the second half until the Raiders went on a 9-2 run to eventually go up 61-58 with 26 seconds left.
Buttell had the first look at a tying three and missed, but he retrieved the rebound and passed it out to Mayo, who also came up short. The carom came back out to Mayo, who pump-faked two Raider defenders at the top of the arc and swished in a trey before the buzzer sounded to send the game into an extra session.
The Flames proceeded to score the first five points of the overtime period. Buttell converted a layup, and Robo Kreps stole the ball from Gavin Horne and drove in for a bucket while getting fouled for a three-point play.
Cory Cooperwood made one of two free throws to get Wright State within four, but that is as close as the Raiders would get the rest of the way. The Flames rattled off a 9-0 run to go up by 13 with just over a minute left to put the game out of reach.
A total of five Flames scored in double figures, with Mayo and Kreps adding 13 apiece and Rob Eppinger tallying 11.
"It was one of the best team efforts that we've had all year," said UIC head coach Jimmy Collins, who returned after missing the last two games due to the death of his mother. "There was no question that everybody got involved, and we had to be involved against a team that has won 16 of their last 20 games. We had to play as a team."
"I was very happy with the effort put forth tonight."
The Flames went 25-for-27 at the free throw line, hitting their final 16 from the charity stripe.
UIC hosts Southern Illinois in an ESPNU BracketBusters game this Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. inside the UIC Pavilion. Mayo and VanderMeer will be honored prior to the game as part of Senior Day.
