The Illinois-Chicago Flames let another one slip away in enemy territory Monday night.
UIC`s road losing streak reached 13 regular season games in an 80-78 loss to Western Kentucky at Bowling Green, Ky.
In another game involving a local school, Chicago State blew a 19-point lead and lost its home opener to Knoxville College 104-101.
UIC sophomore point guard Kenny Williams had a career game, scoring 24 points, but the Flames (2-1), who shot 59 percent for a 48-35 halftime bulge, couldn`t keep prosperity from slipping away.
The Flames easily handled the Hilltoppers` full-court pressure and shut down their three-point attack (4 for 18). But critical turnovers in UIC`s half-court game and missed free throws cost them down the stretch as Western Kentucky closed in.
Things got worse when Brian Hill (15 points) fouled out with 5 minutes 57 seconds to go, mere seconds after putting UIC back in control 71-66 with a pair of three-pointers.
”Hill fouling out really hurt us,” said UIC coach Bob Hallberg. ”They had gone to a zone, and Brian was the guy we really would have looked for in that situation.”
With Hill gone, Western Kentucky regained the lead at 73-71 on forward Scott Boley`s three-pointer with 4:15 to go. Then, when Travon Hughes fouled out with 3:01 left, Western Kentucky increased its lead to 78-73 on two free throws by Darnell Mee (20 points, nine rebounds).
A last gasp pulled UIC even again at 78 on a Chris Dillard three-pointer, but the Hilltoppers won it on Harold Thompkins` layup with 1:15 left.
At Chicago State, the Cougars raced to a 65-47 halftime lead over Knoxville, a school that will compete in NAIA Division II next season. Chicago State (1-3) went up 86-66 with 11 minutes remaining, before the Bulldogs`
press turned the game around.
The Cougars, who shot 55 percent for the game but were only 9 for 29 (31 percent) in the second half, missed the front end of one-and-one opportunities twice in the final minute. Two free throws by Maurice Hart with 1:26 to go gave Knoxville its eventual three-point winning margin.
Paul Huff, a 6-foot-5-inch senior from Indianapolis, led Knoxville with 25 points. Aaron Madry added 14 points, Hart 13. The Bulldogs had 21 offensive rebounds to just nine for Chicago State.
Mario Clark topped the losers with 17 points, and Reggie Burcy contributed 16 more. Frank Thames collected 11 points and Desmond Rice and Lee Sims had 10 each.
![Four years into cannabis legalization in Illinois, celebrations of the April 20 informal weed holiday known as 420 are getting bigger and more widespread. Named for the time of day a group of friends met to get high, 420 has become a chance for marijuana users to publicly share a previously illegal drug and the counter-cultural atmosphere surrounding it. The main event in downtown Chicago likely will be the second annual 420 Sesh Fest, at Green Rose Dispensary. The party will include live music, a magic show, carnival games, food trucks, pop ups, and product discounts. It also will feature Grammy-nominated […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ctc-l-Illinois-marijuana_175925141.jpg?w=546 "Four years into cannabis legalization in Illinois, celebrations of the April 20 informal weed holiday known as 420 are getting bigger and more widespread. Named for the time of day a group of friends met to get high, 420 has become a chance for marijuana users to publicly share a previously illegal drug and the counter-cultural atmosphere surrounding it. The main event in downtown Chicago likely will be the second annual 420 Sesh Fest, at Green Rose Dispensary. The party will include live music, a magic show, carnival games, food trucks, pop ups, and product discounts. It also will feature Grammy-nominated […]")