UIC, Milwaukee Split Results on Sunday

Men’s Basketball Scoreboard (Nov. 11):
UIC 59, UC Riverside 52
South Carolina 82, Milwaukee 75 (OT)

UIC and Milwaukee split results on Sunday, with the Flames collecting a win in its season opener. Playing for the second time in less than 48 hours, Milwaukee led much of the way before falling in overtime at South Carolina. The loss was the first of the year for a Horizon League men’s basketball team.

UIC 59, UC Riverside 52
Breaking in several newcomers to its lineup, UIC grinded its way to a 59-52 victory over visiting UC Riverside at the UIC Pavilion.

UIC (1-0) benefited from the newcomers, as Josh Crittle and Joey Miller had 29 of the Flames’ 59. Crittle, in his debut for UIC after transferring from Central Florida, was the most efficient player in the game, scoring 15 points, grabbing seven rebounds and recording five blocks.

Miller, who came to Chicago after a season at Eastern Illinois, finished with 14 points, including a 4-of-6 effort from the three-point arc. After Crittle, Miller was UIC’s most efficient player in the game.

Hayden Humes and senior guard Gary Talton chipped in with 10 apiece.  UC Riverside was led by Josh Fox, who tallied a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.

UIC jumped out to a 14-2 lead, nine of which came from Humes. The junior knocked down both of his three-pointers in the stretch. The Flames would consistently lead by three possessions in the first half, but took a five-point lead into the half after a quick 7-3 burst from UC Riverside made it a 30-25 game.

The second half followed a similar script, with UIC opening on a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the game at 40-27.

The Highlanders battled back, pulling within 50-47 with 4:09 remaining. Miller answered with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to two possessions, but UCR’s Chris Harriel hit another three, making the score 53-50 with 2:28 left.

The Flames showed poise down the stretch, outscoring the Highlanders 6-2 in the final 1:56.  Talton helped seal the victory with three converted free throws, while Daniel Barnes provided the dagger with a three from the wing with 1:09 remaining, giving UIC a 58-50 lead.

South Carolina 82, Milwaukee 75 (OT)
Milwaukee led most of the way, but the Panthers saw that lead slip away late in regulation and could not regain it in overtime, falling at South Carolina, 82-75, in the opener of the Hoops for Hope Classic.

Less than 48 hours after opening its season with a win at home, Milwaukee (1-1) jumped out front early against the host Gamecocks, leading from the 11:48 mark of the first half until South Carolina tied the game with under a minute to play.

Jordan Aaron was the catalyst throughout the day for the Panthers, as the junior led all scorers with a career-high 28 points. The newcomer was 7-for-14 from three-point range, despite missing his last four attempts from beyond the arc.

It was his seventh three of the game, at the 10:38 mark of the second half, that gave Milwaukee its high-water mark at 54-40.

Down the stretch, however, South Carolina was able to close the gap with timely stops and going down low. Hitting jumpers or going to the free-throw line, the Gamecocks had a chance to take the lead at the end of regulation, but hit just 2-of-3 free throws with 18 seconds remaining.

With Milwaukee in foul trouble throughout the overtime period, six of the first 10 points for the Gamecocks came at the charity stripe; down by six midway through overtime, the Panthers would rally once more.

Austin Arians’ three sliced the deficit in half, and the Panthers forced an over-and-back violation from South Carolina to take the ball with 46 seconds to play. However, Aaron’s attempt to tie the game rattled off the rim, and the Gamecocks hit a pair of free throws to go up 80-75 with 18 seconds remaining.

Aaron would convert two free throws to make it a one-possession game once again, but South Carolina closed out the game at the line.

For the game, Milwaukee was just 9-of-19 at the free-throw line; South Carolina was 26-for-31. Four Gamecocks finished in double figures, while James Haarsma had 14 to join Aaron in double figures.