Jan. 14, 2012
Final Box Score 
CHICAGO - Junior guard Daniel Barnes scored a team-high 18 points on six three-pointers, and the UIC men's basketball team held visiting Loyola to just 40.5 percent shooting, posting a 58-51 win over the Ramblers at the UIC Pavilion Saturday afternoon.
With the win, UIC improves to 6-11 (2-5 Horizon) on the season, while Loyola drops to 5-12 and 0-7 in League play. The Flames upped their record to 6-2 at the Pavilion, and picked up their 30th all-time win against their cross-town rivals.
"Our thought our guys put together a very valiant effort against a Loyola team that is very tough and very hungry," said head coach Howard Moore. "We did a tremendous job weathering through some adverse times during the game. When Loyola made runs, we were quick to respond."
Barnes' 18 point outburst came on a season-best 6-for-9 effort from three-point range. He was joined in double figures by junior point guard Gary Talton, who chipped in 16 points, and senior center Darrin Williams, who posted an impressive stat line with 11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
"Darrin (Williams), Gary (Talton) and Danny (Barnes) all stepped up, not only offensively, but they showed some leadership out there," Moore added. "That helped us get the stops we needed, and played with a `refuse to lose' mentality."
Loyola was led in scoring by Walt Gibler, who poured in a game-high 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting. Preseason All-Horizon League selection Ben Averkamp was limited to just 10 points on a 5-for-14 effort from the field.
UIC got off to a solid start, jumping out to a 10-2 lead through the opening 5:09. That lead was extended to double-digits (18-8) with 12:49 remaining in the stanza after the first of three field goals by senior reserve center Dorian Tyler. But Loyola charged back with an 11-2 run, and pulled within 20-19 with 5:22 left in the first half.
The Ramblers claimed their only lead of the opening stanza with 3:07 remaining, after point guard Denzel Brito drilled back-to-back free throws to give the Ramblers the temporary advantage, 23-22. Talton answered with a three on the other end, pushing UIC's lead back to two, 25-23. The Flames finished the frame on a 5-2 run, and took a 30-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
UIC opened the second half on a 9-5 spree, claiming a 39-30 lead with 15:16 remaining. The Ramblers answered with a commanding 15-5 run to take their only lead of the second half, 45-44 - Gibler had 10 quick points in the stretch to fuel the run. Tyler answered with a driving layup on the other end, giving UIC a 46-45 lead that it would not relinquish.
The Flames extended their lead to seven points (54-47) with 4:45 remaining after Barnes hit back-to-back threes, and senior forward Paris Carter added a driving field goal. Gibler and Christian Thomas then combined to score five-consecutive points over the ensuing 2:12, helping the Ramblers slice UIC's lead to just three, 54-51, with 2:33 remaining. Talton hit four free throws down the stretch to preserve the seven-point victory.
With the victory, UIC equaled its entire Horizon League win output from the 2010-11 campaign (2) with 11 regular season League games remaining. The Flames improved to 30-17 all-time versus Loyola, with a 17-5 all-time record against the Ramblers at the UIC Pavilion.
Barnes' 16-point effort marked his 10th double-digit scoring output of the season, and his highest single-game scoring effort since Dec. 23 at Dayton. Talton also scored in double figures for the 10th time this season, including the fourth time during Horizon League play. Williams recorded his ninth double-digit scoring output and led the Flames in rebounding for the 10th time this season.
UIC will continue its homestand next Thursday (Jan. 19), when the Flames host two-time national runner-up Butler at the Pavilion beginning at 7:30 p.m. The game will be preceded by the women's basketball team taking on the Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m.
