Illinois-Chicago rallied for a victory and moved into first place Thursday night by playing out a time-honored story line . . . with a slightly new twist.
Mark Miller, leading the Midwestern Collegiate Conference with an average of 21 points a game, was back in Chicago aching from recent dental surgery. So somebody had to step up, pick up the slack and . . .
Sure, somebody. But Leonard Walker?
Walker was the Flames’ man. The seldom used 6-foot-4-inch sophomore benchwarmer from Springfield Lanphier High School led UIC’s 72-63 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The victory improved UIC’s record to 14-3 overall and 4-1 in the MCC. It dropped UWM to 1-14, 0-4. It also moved the Flames into the league lead ahead of Butler, which lost to Cleveland State.
Until he came off the bench against Milwaukee, Walker had played only 56 minutes in nine games, scoring eight points and getting nine rebounds. In 19 minutes Thursday, he scored 16, had eight rebounds, blocked a shot, had a steal, played strong defense and ignited a team that trailed 36-29 at the half.
“Somebody had to pick it up,” Walker said. “This was my opportunity. I knew this was my shot.
“I figured the best way I could help the team was by rebounding. I felt if I got offensive rebounds, I’d get some easy putbacks, and that’s what I did.”
Coach Jimmy Collins said he called upon Walker because “Bryant Lowe, Konstantine Stavropoulos and Theandre Kimbrough did not play well in the first half. Walker was our key tonight. We had to win without Mark, and the game showed we need Mark to win. But Leonard stepped up. He had a good week in practice. He’s tough and quick and athletic.
“Leonard knew in advance he’d get some playing time. That helped, because sometimes when a man doesn’t play, and he goes in, it’s like going into the lions’ den. He panics.”
UIC didn’t panic when it trailed by seven at the half, but as 22-point scorer Lowe said, “We knew we had to be more aggressive. Some of us older guys told Leonard, `We need you tonight.’ “
Lowe’s scoring and Stavropoulos’ driving to the hoop sparked the Flames to runs of 7-0 and 12-2 at the start of the second half. When Leonard re-entered the game, he energized his team with his offensive rebounding.
Point guard Anthony Coomes was a steadying influence for the Flames. He played the entire game and had an 8-1 assist-turnover ratio.
Cyrus Caldwell scored 17 points and led four Milwaukee players who scored between 10 and 17.
