Dec. 1, 2011

Final Box Score

GREEN BAY, Wis. - UIC's starting backcourt of Daniel Barnes and Gary Talton combined to score 31 points, and the UIC men's basketball team held the lead with less than two minutes remaining, but host Green Bay finished the game on a 6-2 run, escaping with a 71-68 win over the Flames in the Horizon League opener for both teams at the Resch Center Thursday night.

Green Bay jumped out to a 33-26 lead at halftime, but UIC held the lead for more than four minutes during the second half, including a 66-65 edge with 1:58 remaining. Green Bay regained the advantage with 1:07 left, and led 71-68 when Barnes attempted a potential game-tying three-pointer with five seconds remaining. Green Bay's Kam Cerroni was credited with a steal on the play, preserving the comeback victory for the Phoenix.

"I thought our guys played with a lot of heart, and a lot of character tonight," said head coach Howard Moore. "Even though we got off to a slow start, I thought they really responded, and settled down. With the veteran lineup we had in there, I thought we did some good things. Our defense showed up for the most part, but we obviously didn't get it done at the end of the game. It's a tough loss, but we've got to pick ourselves up, and get ready for Milwaukee."

Barnes scored a game-high 17 points, all in the second half, including four three-pointers. Talton earned the start and scored a career-high 14 points, while senior center Darrin Williams came off the bench to chip in 13 points and corral six rebounds. Green Bay was led by preseason All-Horizon League center Alec Brown, who scored 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Terry Johnson (12), Brennan Cougill (12) and Cerroni (11) all joined Brown in double figures.

Green Bay jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and extended the advantage to 10-3 with 13:42 remaining in the first half. UIC clawed back to climb within three (13-10) with 9:51 left, but after a layup by Brown at the 8:53 mark, the Phoenix extended their lead to 17-11.

Green Bay built its largest lead of 11 points (27-16) with 5:03 remaining in the opening stanza after a dunk by Brown. But the Flames responded with an 8-4 run, pulling within 31-24 after Talton's second field goal. Williams then converted a field goal in the paint with just seven seconds remaining in the half, keeping the deficit at seven points (33-26) heading into the locker room at intermission.

UIC opened the second frame on a commanding 10-3 run, including two field goals by Williams, to tie score at 36-36 with just over 17 minutes (17:01) remaining. Freshman guard Marc Brown hit a three-pointer with 16:18 left, giving the Flames their first lead, 39-37. There were a combined 12 ties and lead changes in the ensuing 7:35, before the Phoenix took a 53-50 lead after a layup by Brown. Green Bay then stretched its advantage to seven points (57-50) after Brown hit two free throws.

After falling behind 60-53, UIC answered with a resounding 13-3 spree, taking a 66-63 lead after a three-pointer by senior guard Matt Bush - Barnes and Talton each had field goals in the spurt to aid in the effort. Brown answered with a field goal with 1:58 remaining to pull the Phoenix back within one, 66-65. Cougill then added a layup with 1:07 left to re-claim the lead for Green Bay, 67-66.

After forcing a defensive stop on the other end, Johnson was fouled, and drilled both of the ensuing free throws, giving the Phoenix a 69-66 lead with 25 seconds remaining. Talton then drove the length of the court and scored in transition to pull UIC back within one, 69-68, with just over19 seconds left.

Senior forward Paris Carter fouled Green Bay's Daniel Turner on the ensuing possession, and he missed both free throws. But Cougill stole the ensuing rebound away from Williams, and laid the ball in, pushing Green Bay's lead back to three, 71-68. Barnes' potential game-tying shot came from the left wing. Cerroni and Barnes collided during the release of the shot, but the ball was jarred loose, and Cerroni dribbled out the clock.

UIC will complete its road trip on Saturday, when the Flames travel to Milwaukee to take on the Panthers at U.S. Cellular Arena beginning at 1 p.m. CST. Milwaukee defeated Loyola in its Horizon League opener Thursday night, 59-41.