March 7, 2008

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - In a game that was a defensive struggle throughout, fourth-seeded UIC (18-14) emerged victorious with a 60-49 victory over eighth-seeded Loyola University Chicago (12-19) tonight in a Horizon League Championship Second Round game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. With the win, UIC advances to the semifinal round tomorrow when it will face top-seed Butler.

"This is a tough way to end the season," Loyola head coach Jim Whitesell said. "The last 10 minutes of the game, we just couldn't get a basket. UIC kept us at bay and their zone bothered us."

The first half was a nip-and-tuck affair with neither team leading by more than three points. Tracy Robinson scored the final four points of the period, including a basket with 53 seconds left to give the Ramblers a 21-19 lead at the half.

Consecutive lay-ups by Andy Polka and Aric Van Weelden to start the second half gave Loyola a 25-19 lead, its largest of the night. From there however, the Ramblers offense went cold, scoring only one field goal over the next 12 minutes as UIC took control of the game while in the process, opening up a 35-30 lead.

Loyola closed within 35-33 on a three-pointer by Ross Forman, but UIC rattled off the next five points to seize momentum and never led by fewer than four points the rest of the game. UIC was buoyed by perfect shooting from the free throw stripe in the second half (20 for 20).

Robinson netted a team-high 15 points in his final game as a Rambler, while Forman and Polka recorded 10 points apiece. UIC was led by Josh Mayo's 17 points.