Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Bo Ryan glanced down at the score sheet hoping for a second opinion.
“This says they have more points than us too,” he said.
Forgive Ryan for wanting a recount but it was understandable after Illinois-Chicago overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to beat his Panthers 81-75 Saturday night at the Pavilion.
Theandre Kimbrough scored a career-high 27 points, including 19 in the second half, and Jordan Kardos came off the bench for 22 points. The comeback came entirely without forward Maurice Brown, who was on the bench after picking up his fourth foul with 17 minutes 45 seconds left.
The Flames (9-17, 4-7 Midwestern Collegiate Conference) trailed 20-2 after seven minutes when coach Jimmy Collins called a timeout.
“We still had a lot of time and I reminded them of that,” Collins said. “Strangely enough they were saying the same thing to each other. I heard several players say, `There’s a lot of time, let’s not try to get it all back.”‘
They took their time and still trailed by 18 at halftime. Kimbrough’s three-pointer with 6:48 left gave UIC its first lead at 61-60.
After Kardos gave UIC a 72-71 lead on a three-point play with 1:20 left, Cory Little sank a free throw after getting fouled on a defensive rebound. Little then put back a missed layup by Kimbrough and hit two more free throws for a 77-71 advantage with 32 seconds left.
The Panthers (11-11, 4-6) made 12 of 39 three-point attempts but only 4 of 20 in the second half.
Clay Tucker (23 points) made a four-point play when Kimbrough fouled him on a three-pointer, but Jonathan Schneiderman hit two free throws to make it 79-75 with 26 seconds left. Tucker then missed two three-pointers.
“I’m a senior and this is my last year,” Kimbrough said. “I just want to go out with whatever kind of bang I can.”
