Dec. 2, 2011
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► UIC will look to capture its first road win at U.S. Cellular Arena since the 2007-08 campaign, when the Flames travel to Milwaukee, Wis., to take on the Panthers in a Horizon League match-up on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. CST. UIC (2-4, 0-1 Horizon) is coming off Thursday's 71-68 setback at Green Bay in the Horizon League opener. Milwaukee is 6-1 on the season, and began conference play with a 59-41 win over Loyola on Thursday night at The Cell.
► Milwaukee has recorded seven-straight wins over the Flames, dating back to the 2007-08 campaign, when UIC recorded a season sweep over the Panthers. Overall, Milwaukee leads the all-time series against UIC, 36-22.
► Saturday's match-up will pit a pair of head coaches that both served assistant coaching stints at Wisconsin under head coach Bo Ryan. UIC head coach Howard Moorewas an assistant with the Badgers for five years prior to taking over the Flames' program last season, while Jeter worked under Ryan for 10 of his 11 seasons as an assistant coach.
► The Flames' last Horizon League road victory was on Feb. 15, 2009, when UIC defeated Valparaiso at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
► NEXT UP: UIC will jump back into non-conference play next Saturday (Dec. 10), when the Flames entertain in-state foe Northern Illinois at the UIC Pavilion beginning at 3 p.m. CST. The Huskies are 0-6 on the season, and will host Nebraska-Omaha Saturday afternoon.
THE COACHES
UIC: Howard Moore(Wisconsin, '95) is in his second season as the head coach at UIC, where he has compiled a 9-28 overall record. He spent the previous five seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, helping the Badgers to five straight NCAA tournament berths. Moore, 38, also served assistant coaching stints at Loyola (2004-05), Ball State (2003-04) and Bradley (1999-2003).
Milwaukee: Rob Jeter, the 2011 Horizon League Coach of the Year, is in his seventh season as the mentor at Milwaukee. Over the last three years, UWM has won 34 league regular season contests, and also advanced to last season's Horizon League Championship game.
ABOUT MILWAUKEE
» Milwaukee tied for the 2011 Horizon League regular-season championship, and occupied the No. 1 seed in the ensuing postseason Horizon League Tournament. The Panthers finished the campaign with a 19-14 (13-5 Horizon) record, and went on to play in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
» The Panthers enter Saturday's contest with a 6-1 record, and have won two-straight, including Thursday's 18-point (59-41) win over visiting Loyola. Milwaukee is 4-0 at home on the season.
» Milwaukee is being led in both scoring and rebounding by James Haarsma, the reigning Horizon League Player of the Week, who is averaging 11.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
» Senior point guard Kaylon Williams, a preseason All-Horizon League pick, has dished out 37 assists against 23 turnovers on the season. He is also scoring 10.8 points per game, while Ja'Rob McCallum has added 10.0 points per outing.
FLAMES DROP HEARTBREAKER AT GREEN BAY, 71-68
GREEN BAY, Wis. - UIC's starting backcourt of Daniel Barnes and Gary Taltoncombined 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.
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 Williamscame 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.
POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: UIC made a season-high nine three-point field goals ... The Flames committed a season-low 15 turnovers, including only five mishaps in the second half ... UIC bested the Phoenix on the boards, 40-35 ... Daniel Barnes' 17 points led UIC's scoring output for the second time this season -- he also corralled a team-high seven rebounds ... Junior point guard Gary Talton carded the start, and dished out his third double-digit scoring output of the season ... Senior center Darrin Williamswas 6-of-7 from the field en route to 13 points, marking his third game scoring in double figures ... There were a combined 16 ties and lead changes in the game, including 12 in a 7:35 stretch mid-way through the second half ... UIC shot 44.6 percent from the field, the Flames' second-best effort of the season ... UIC was 9-of-18 (.500) from three-point range, including seven threes in the second stanza ... Green Bay scored 20 points off turnovers ... The Flames dropped to 1-2 on the season in games decided by five points or less.
VETERAN LINEUP STARTS, RESPONDS VERSUS PHOENIX
Head coach Howard Moore, who has used four different starting lineups this season, may have found the combination he was looking for Thursday night at Green Bay. The Flames' starting lineup of sophomore Hayden Humes, senior Paris Carter, juniors Daniel Barnes and Gary Talton and senior Matt Bushhas played in a combined 98 NCAA Division I games over the past two seasons. The starters combined to score 44 of the Flames' 68 points in the game.
ATTACKING THE GLASS
Last season, UIC led the Horizon League in offensive rebounding, and through the first six games of the 2011-12 campaign, the Flames have picked up right where they left off. UIC is currently averaging a League-best 15.8 offensive rebounds per game. Senior Paris Carter (2.7 rpg; t-6th) and freshman Marc Brown(2.5 rpg; t-9th) both rank in the top-10 of the League in offensive rebounding. Overall, the Flames have out-rebounded five-of their six opponents this season.
HUMES FINDING HIS GROOVE
Sophomore transfer forward Hayden Humes, who tallied his first start of the season Thursday at Green Bay, is off to a quick start in an unfamiliar category for his position: three-point distance. The Valparaiso, Ind., native is 8-of-14 from three-point range on the season, a Horizon League-best 57.1 percent.
EMERGING FLOOR GENERAL
Junior point guard Gary Talton, a transfer from Mountain View (Texas) Community College, is beginning to emerge as the Flames' leader on the floor, and one of the top newcomers in the Horizon League. Talton, who started his second game of the season Thursday night at Green Bay, is averaging 11.5 points and 3.8 assists per game over the last four contests. Talton led Mountain View to the NJCAA Division III National Championship last season, ranking in the top-five of the nation in assists per game.
BALANCED ATTACK
Through the first six games of the season, UIC has enjoyed a balanced scoring attack. Six players are averaging at least seven points per game, including three newcomers, and two freshmen. Junior guard Daniel Barnesenters Saturday's game as the Flames' top scorer, with 10.0 points per game.
BACK ON THE HORIZON
UIC began its 11th season of Horizon League play Thursday, when the Flames kicked off the conference slate at Green Bay. The Flames have compiled a record of 76-93 (.449) in league games over that span, and achieved a winning record in both the 2002-03 (12-4) and 2003-04 (12-4) seasons. UIC's best regular season Horizon League finish was in 2003-04, when the Flames finished second, just one game behind first-place Milwaukee. The Flames went on to capture the 2004 Horizon League Tournament Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. UIC will look to break a three-year streak of losing records in Horizon League play this season. Prior to becoming a full-time member of the Horizon League, UIC served membership stints in the MCC (1994-2001) and Mid-Continent Conference (1982-94).
