Nov. 16, 2014
UIC GAME NOTES HEADLINES
The Western Illinois Series
UIC owns a 19-16 all-time series advantage against the Leathernecks dating back to Dec. 9, 1978. The Flames are 9-1 in the last 10 meeting versus WIU having dropped their most recent tilt on Dec. 18, 2012 by a final of 70-54 in Macomb, Ill. UIC won the last gathering in Chicago on Dec. 19, 2011, as the Flames edged Western Illinois, 57-56, after then-junior guard Gary Talton sank a game-winning layup with 3.2 seconds left to play.
Second-Half Heroics
Facing a 21-point deficit late in the first half at DePaul, the Flames used runs of 13-2 and 9-0 in the second period to eventually take their first lead of the game with 30 seconds left to play. Despite the ensuing loss, UIC outscored DePaul in the final frame, 41-26, and held the Blue Demons to 36 percent field-goal shooting. The Flames were clutch from the free throw line in the second half, hitting 14-of-15 attempts, and also scored 10 points off turnovers.
Paris Burns Bright in Flames Debut
UIC newcomer Paris Burns had a stellar debut for the Flames this past Friday as the junior guard totaled 15 points and five rebounds. Burns led all scorers at halftime with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. The Vincennes University transfer and Chicago native also rattled off 10 of UIC's 13 points during a 10-minute stretch in the first half.
Wiegand Has Career Night at DePaul
Junior Jake Wiegand posted one of the best games of his UIC tenure last Friday at DePaul, netting 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Wiegand collected his second collegiate double-double and was the only player in the game to achieve 10-plus points and rebounds. The 240-pound power forward also sank 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
UIC Home Openers
UIC has experienced great success in home openers as they own a 26-7 record since turning Division I in 1981-82. Six of those seven losses came against DePaul (1981), Cincinnati (1982), Michigan State (1994), Illinois (1996), Georgia Tech (2004) and Drake (2013). Last season the Flames suffered a heart-breaking home-opening defeat versus the Bulldogs as a potential game-tying finger roll from then-senior forward Hayden Humes rimmed out at the buzzer.
Marc Brown Eyes 1,000 Career Points
Senior guard Marc Brown needs 244 more points to reach 1,000 for his career as he currently owns 756 points. He would become the 21st player in program history to do so and the first since current graduate manager Robo Kreps (2007-11). Brown scored 349 points last season which nearly doubled his 188 total from his sophomore campaign. He scored a game-high 19 points in the season opener at DePaul last Friday, including 12 in the second half.
In-State Play
Eight of UIC's 15 non-league games this season will be against in-state opponents. That total is the highest among all 13 D-I men's basketball teams in the state of Illinois. DePaul, SIU-Carbondale and Chicago State will play four in-state teams, while Northern Illinois and SIU-Edwardsville are schedule to play three. Bradley, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, Loyola, and Western Illinois have two in-state games on the slate as Big Ten members Northwestern and Illinois have one and zero, respectively.
Odiase Starts in First Collegiate Game
Freshman Tai Odiase received the start in his first collegiate game this past Friday at DePaul. He gave UIC a solid performance down the stretch, knotting the score twice with a pair of made free throws at the 2:16 mark and a put back with 1:11 left to play. The Flossmoor, Ill., native totaled six points and two rebounds in 27 minutes of play. In UIC's exhibition win against Beloit, Odiase swatted a game-high seven shots and added eight points.
Flames Welcome Six Newcomers
Head Coach Howard Moore added six newcomers to the 2014-15 roster, including four players with prior college basketball experience. Fifth-year graduate student Jay Harris (6-1, G, Aurora, Ill./Wagner) highlights the group of fresh faces and is joined by junior college transfers D'Juan Miller (5-8, G, Kent, Wash./Eastern Arizona College), Jason McClellan (6-9, F, Fort Collins, Colo./ Eastern Wyoming College) and Paris Burns (5-11, G, Chicago, Ill./Vincennes). Two freshmen round out UIC's six newcomers in Tai Odiase (6-9, F/C, Flossmoor, Ill.) and David Ramon (6-7, F, Madrid, Spain).
Flames Excel in First Ever Foreign Tour
UIC won three of its five games this past August against Canadian University teams as the Flames participated in their first ever foreign tour. UIC fell in its first two outings versus the No. 1 (Carleton) and No. 2 (Ottawa) ranked teams in the country after holding leads late in both games. The Flames rebounded and came home on a three-game winning streak, securing double-digit victories to finish the tour. Junior Gabe Snider led the Flames in scoring at 14.4 points per game, hitting 15-of-36 (.417) from downtown, which included a 28-point outburst against Ottawa. On average the Flames out-performed their Canadian opposition in nearly every statistical category, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and shooting percentage.
Deon Thomas Added to Coaching Staff
On April 29, 2014, head coach Howard Moore announced the addition of Deon Thomas as assistant basketball coach. Thomas is highly regarded as one of the most successful American basketball players ever to compete overseas as he enjoyed a decorated 14-year career. The McDonald's All-American from Simeon High School was voted Illinois Mr. Basketball in 1989. He was a four-year letterwinner at Illinois and still holds the Fighting Illini's career scoring (2,129) and shot-blocking (177) records. Thomas was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with a 28th overall pick in 1994 NBA Draft, but decided to play abroad.
Barlow Drafted Into NBA D-League
Former UIC basketball standout Kelsey Barlow was recently (Nov. 1) selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NBA D-League Draft by the Grand Rapids Drive as the 77th overall pick. Barlow played one season for the Flames during the 2013-14 campaign and led the team in scoring, assists and steals. He was also the only player in the Horizon league to average at least 14 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. Barlow joins former UIC guard Gary Talton of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2011-13) in the NBA D-League.
Injury Sidelines McClellan 2-3 Weeks
Junior transfer Jason McClellan is expected to miss 2-3 weeks of action after suffering a stress fracture in his right hip. The 6-foot-9 forward came to UIC from Eastern Wyoming College where he averaged 11.6 points per game last season.
Harris and Whitaker to Sit Out First Three Games
Fifth-year transfer Jay Harris and redshirt freshman Lance Whitaker will miss the first three games of the 2014-15 season due to a violation of team rules as was announced by head coach Howard Moore on Nov. 6.
