Nov. 19, 2011

Final Box Score

CHICAGO - Junior guard Daniel Barnes scored a game-high 17 points to eclipse his career-high for the third-consecutive game, but the Flames surrendered a late lead, and fell short versus Quincy in a non-conference men's basketball game at the UIC Pavilion Saturday afternoon, 65-61.

With the loss, UIC drops to 1-2 on the season, while Quincy moves to 2-0.

Gary Talton (Dallas, Texas/Mountain View) and Matt Bush (Quincy, Ill./Quincy) both tallied career-high numbers as Talton scored 13 points, while Bush chipped in eight points on 3-of-5 shooting. The Hawks were led by Courtney Belger, who contributed a team-high 14 points.

"Quincy came out with a purpose to come in here and get something done today," said head coach Howard Moore. "We lost to a very good basketball team today. I told our guys in the locker room that now they know what Illinois felt like when we knocked them off last year. Anybody can beat anybody at any time, and Quincy was the aggressor tonight. They got us down early, and we responded, but it was a little too late. You have to give them all of the credit."

Quincy shot 56 percent in the opening half, and held a seven-point (35-28) at halftime. UIC regained a four-point advantage with just over eight minutes remaining in the second half, but the Hawks erased the deficit, and hit 12 free throws down the stretch to seal the win. The Hawks out-scored UIC 28-16 in the paint, and scored 25 points off the Flames' 16 turnovers. There were a combined six ties and lead changes in the contest.

Quincy jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the early stages, and extended its advantage to double-digits (25-15) with 6:36 remaining in the first half. UIC trimmed the deficit to just five (33-28) with 28 seconds left, but Belger converted a transition layup to push the lead back to three possessions (35-28) at intermission.

UIC opened the second stanza on a 17-12 run, and tied the game at 43-43 with 11:51 remaining after a three-pointer by Barnes. Hayden Humes then drilled two free throws with 8:01 left to give the Flames their largest lead, 49-45. But the Hawks answered with an 8-0 run, and took a 53-49 lead after a conventional three-point play by Belger.

UIC pulled within two points twice in the final 3:56, but never regained the lead. Austin Weber went 6-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to hold off the Flames' late surge.

UIC will complete its three-game homestand next Wednesday, when the Flames host Evansville at the Pavilion beginning at 7 p.m. CST.