Robert Bush Scores 14 To Lead Flames Past Youngstown St. 70-59

March 4, 2008

CHICAGO (AP)--Robert Bush scored 14 points as Illinois-Chicago defeated Youngstown State 70-59 on Tuesday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament.

Illinois-Chicago (17-14) outscored Youngstown State 26-12 to start the game and cruised to the easy victory. Josh Mayo added 13 points for the Flames, who will play Loyola of Chicago on Friday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Mayo extended the Flames' lead with a 3-pointer to put them up 48-29 with 15:55 left to play. It was the Flames' largest lead of the game.

The Penguins cut the deficit to 57-48 on Dwight Holmes' steal and dunk, but the Flames quickly got the lead back to double-digits. Spencer Stewart made two free throws and Bush hit a jumper to give the Flames a 61-48 with 2:44 left to play. Stewart finished with 10 points and Scott VanderMeer had 13 rebounds and seven points.

Byron Davis led Youngstown State (5-14) with a game-high 22 points.

The Flames shot 58.3 percent in the first half and held Youngstown State to 28.1 percent. Bush scored eight points in the first half and Robert Kreps added seven points for the Flames, who led 37-21 at the half.

Illinois-Chicago outrebounded Youngstown State 44-30.