Feb. 11, 2008

Box Score

Chicago, Ill.- An overwhelming second-half effort lifted the UIC men's basketball team to a 77-53 victory over visiting Valparaiso at the UIC Pavilion on Monday night.

Josh Mayo scored 18 points to lead the Flames (14-10, 8-5 Horizon League) to their fourth consecutive victory. Scott VanderMeer added 13 points, a game-high eight rebounds and five blocks.

UIC used an 11-0 run over a span of just under two minutes to turn a two-point lead into a 13-point advantage at the 14:59 mark of the final stanza.

That spurt was the beginning of a 33-7 second-period burst by the hosts that put the contest out of reach for the Crusaders (14-10, 5-7 Horizon League).

The Flames hit their first six three-point attempts of the second half to ignite the charge. Spencer Stewart, who scored 11 points and handed out six assists, and Mayo each nailed three treys during that stretch of perfection from downtown.

UIC held Valparaiso, the Horizon League's top offensive team coming into Monday's game, to its season-low point output. It was also the second straight game that the Flames held an opponent under 56 points.

The Flames shot 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from the floor, the ninth time in 12 home games and fourth straight Pavilion outing that UIC has hit 50 percent or better from the field as a team.

Shawn Huff scored a game-high 19 points for the Crusaders.

UIC hits the road for the next two games, beginning this Thursday at Detroit. Tip at Calihan Hall between the Flames and Titans is set for 6 p.m. Central.