The Gentile Center was a house divided Saturday night when the Horizon League presented the second episode of its winter version of the North Side/South Side summer rivalry between the Cubs and White Sox, the college basketball matchup of Loyola and Illinois-Chicago.
Ramblers fans outnumbered their counterparts, but the Flames put more points on the board, holding off a late counterattack for a 60-55 victory to sweep the season series after winning in double overtime last month at their Pavilion home.
“From a defensive standpoint, it was a very exciting game,” UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. “Defensively, it might have been our best game on the road. Anytime a team takes you into double overtime, you know you need to play some defense.”
In extending their winning streak to three, the Flames ended the Ramblers’ at three and got their first league road victory in five tries.
“We didn’t have enough offense to get things done,” Loyola coach Jim Whitesell said. “We just couldn’t seem to get untracked. A lot of that was UIC’s defense.”
UIC (13-10, 7-5) shot a frosty 38.9 percent. Loyola (9-14, 5-8) was even colder, converting 35.4 percent.
After missing his first five shots of the first half and scoring only a three-pointer in the last minute, Josh Mayo went on an 18-point spree in the second period. The Flames’ top scorer had 16 of their last 21 points to help them withstand rallies that cut their leads to 43-40 and 50-47.
“In the first half my teammates got me open, and the shots didn’t fall,” Mayo said. “In the second half they got me open, and the shots fell.”
The Flames’ biggest inside scoring weapon, 7-foot Scott VanderMeer, was fighting the flu and scored only two points. However, he compensated for his eight missed shots by hauling down 14 of their 38 rebounds. The Ramblers also grabbed 38 rebounds, and 11 came on the offensive end, where they were able to get 10 second-chance points to UIC’s five.
Rugged Leon Young, who had missed the preceding four games because of a viral infection, came off the bench to lead Loyola with 12 points. He scored 10 in the second half, when he combined with fellow forward Tracy Robinson and reserve guard Justin Cerasoli to launch the Ramblers’ late rally.
“We couldn’t get in a good offensive flow, and they were able to capitalize on the other end,” said J.R. Blount, the Loyola junior guard who has scored more 1,000 points in his career but had a 3-of-13 shooting night in scoring only seven.
Loyola trailed 28-17 at the half, posting its lowest total of the season. Of UIC’s first-half points, 18 came from its bench brigade. In the forefront were guards Karl White Jr. and Robert Kreps, with five points apiece, and 6-9 Jovan Ignjatotovic, with four.
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nmilbert@tribune.com
