Dec. 14, 2014
UIC GAME NOTES
HEADLINES
About UT-Martin
UT-Martin is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and they enter Monday's game with an overall record of 5-2, including a 4-2 road mark. Their two losses came against Marquette and Nebraska. The Skyhawks tout a high-scoring offensive that features five players averaging double figures, being led by junior forward Twymond Howard at 14.4 points per game. UT-Martin averages 77.0 points per contest which 40th in the country. Monday's affair will be the first-ever meeting between UIC and UT-Martin.
Jay Harris Nets Career-High 32 Points
Fifth-year transfer Jay Harris went off for a career-high 32 points this past Thursday in a home win against UCF. Harris became the first UIC player in more than seven years to score 32 or more points at home as former All-League guard Josh Mayo recorded 32 on Dec. 8, 2007 versus Green Bay. Harris' 32-point outburst ranks as the highest single-game effort in the Horizon League this season and shatters his previous career-best of 23. The Aurora, Ill. native also notched career-bests with nine made field goals and 10 made free throws.
Tough Non-League Schedule
UIC's 2014-15 non-league schedule is highlighted be several quality opponents with winning records. The Flames' 13 Division I non-conference opponents are a combined 69-44 (.611) this season as 10 of those 13 programs tout records of .500 or better. The following are UIC's D-I opponents and records: Dayton (7-2), Yale (8-3), DePaul (6-2), Loyola (6-2), SMU (6-3), UT-Martin (5-2), Kent State (5-2), Northwestern (5-3), UCF (5-4), SIU (5-4), Grand Canyon (4-6), Western Illinois (4-5) and Bradley (3-6).
Over the Hump
The Flames' 71-60 victory against Central Florida was UIC's first win when trailing at halftime since Feb. 10, 2013. The Knights held a 30-27 lead at the break, but UIC outscored UCF 44-30 in the final period. Prior to Thursday night, the Flames were 0-26 in games when facing a halftime deficit. On Feb. 10, 2013, UIC gutted out a triple overtime victory at Youngstown State by a final of 88-83.
Brown and Harris Hit Milestones
Marc Brown and Jay Harris reached a pair of impressive milestones this past Thursday in a home win against Central Florida. Brown surpassed 800 career points and grabbed his 300th rebound, while Harris eclipsed 700 career points. Brown became the first UICC player since Robo Kreps (2010-11) to hit the 800/300 benchmark.
Career Night for Paris Burns
Junior newcomer Paris Burns scored a career-high 26 points against city-rival Loyola on Dec. 6, as he exploded for 24 in the second half. The last UIC player to score more than 24 points in second-half action was Daniel Barnes (25) on March 2, 2013 at home against Detroit. The UIC Pavilion record for most points scored in one half is 26 by Wright State's Keion Brooks on Jan. 4, 1999. Burns also set career-bests for made free throws and field goals with nine and eight, respectively. Burns scored 14 of his 24 points in the final 5:01 of the contest.
The Junior Jump
Junior Jake Wiegand has made tremendous strides from his sophomore to junior season as he is averaging 14.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Those numbers are drastic increases from the 2013-14 season when he averaged 7.5 points and 5.1 boards per game. Wiegand is the only player for UIC to start all 10 games this season and was also named a team captain prior to the 2014-15 campaign.
The Constant Scorer
Fifth-year transfer Jay Harris has been a reliable source for points during his first seven games at UIC as he is averaging a team-best 16.9 points per game. Dating back to his final four games at Wagner, Harris has scored double figures in 10 of the last 11 games with efforts of 10, 18, 15, 15, 16, 19, 16, 8, 17, 12 and 32. The Aurora, Ill., native also leads the team in made three-pointers with 15.
Double-Double Machine
Jake Wiegand collected his fourth double-double of the season on Dec. 2 versus Grand Canyon with a 12-point and 10-rebound performance. Wiegand is one of three players in the Horizon League to have four double-doubles so far this season and one of just 36 players in the nation. The junior began the season with back-to-back double-doubles, becoming the first UIC player to start the year in such a manner since 1998 (Bryant Notree). Last season, then-senior Jordan Harks paced the Flames with three double-doubles for the entire year.
One of the Nation's Best
The Flames have been one of the nation's best free-throw shooting teams so far this season as UIC is averaging 74.6 percent (176-of-236). That figure currently ranks 31st in the country and tops in the Horizon League, while UIC's 176 made free throws ranks 12th in the NCAA. UIC touts eight players that are shooting above 75 percent from the charity stripe.
Your Rebounding is Offensive
UIC ranks first in the Horizon League in offensive rebounds with an average of 12.6 boards per game. The Flames grabbed a team-season high 22 offensive caroms versus Loyola on Dec. 6 compared to six for the Ramblers. UIC has out-rebounded its opponent on the offensive glass in eight of 10 games this year. Junior Jake Wiegand ranks second in the HL in offensive rebounding (3.2), while freshman Tai Odiase ranks sixth (2.0).
Cleaning Up the Glass
Jake Wiegand has tallied four double-digit rebounding efforts so far this season, standing as one of four Horizon League players to do so. He ranks first in the conference in boards per game (8.4) and 32nd in the nation in total rebounds (84). Wiegand also leads the conference in defensive rebounds (5.1) and ranks second in offensive boards (3.2).
Tai in the Sky
Tai Odiase continues to be one of the nation's best freshmen rim protectors as his 17 blocked shots ranks 10th among all first-year players in the NCAA this season. That total also ranks tied-for-71st overall in the country and second in the Horizon League to Valparaiso's Vashil Fernandez.
Quality Minutes for McClellan
After sitting out the first six games due to a hip injury, junior Jason McClellan has given UIC quality minutes during his four games played. Through 66 total minutes of court time, McClellan has posted 15 points, 19 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and three assists. The 6-foot-9 forward transferred to UIC after spending two seasons at Eastern Wyoming junior college.
D'Juan with the Dish
Junior D'Juan Miller equaled his Division-I career-high on Dec. 2 against Grand Canyon with six assists. Miller also dished out six helpers in the home-opener versus Western Illinois on Nov. 17. The 5-foot-8 point guard paces the team in assists with an average of 3.6 per contest, which ranks fifth in the Horizon League.
Former Flames Excel in NBA D-League
Former UIC men's basketball players Gary Talton (2011-13) and Kelsey Barlow (2013-14) are off to great starts in the NBA D-League this season. Talton is in his second season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and is averaging 13.9 points, 12.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. Barlow is in his first professional season as a member of the Grand Rapids Drive. He is averaging 5.1 points per game and shooting 50 percent from three-point range. Barlow burst on to the scene with a 14-point effort in a home win against the Iowa Energy on Nov. 29, hitting 4-of-4 from behind the arc.
Jay Parker to Have Ankle Surgery
Senior guard Jay Parker is scheduled to have season-ending ankle surgery on Dec. 23. Parker has been suffering from chronic impingement on his right ankle and has been sidelined since Nov. 24.
2015 Signing Class
Head coach Howard Moore recently announced the addition of three signees to the 2015-16 UIC roster. Those players include junior college transfer Burak Eslik (G, 6-4, 185, Istanbul, Turkey/Lewis and Clark CC) and soon-to-be freshmen Drew Hackett (G, 6-2, 170, Munster, Ind./Munster HS) and Garrett Bye (F/C, 6-10, 210, Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs).
Marc Brown Eyes 1,000 Career Points
Senior guard Marc Brown needs 199 more points to reach 1,000 for his career as he currently owns 801 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.
