Sims season-high matching 24 points leads Skyhawks

Sims led the Skyhawks with a season-high matching 24 points and season-best nine rebounds (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

BRONX, N.Y. (November 21, 2022) – The University of Illinois-Chicago drained 14 three-pointers on its way to a 77-71 victory over Stonehill College on the second day of the 2022 Tom Konchalski Classic, hosted by Fordham University, at Rose Hill Gymnasium this evening.

UIC connected on 14-of-30 (46.7-percent) of its three-point field goals in the contest, and was led by a game-high 28 points from sophomore guard Jace Carter, who made 10-of-14 shots from the floor, including 5-for-9 from three-point distance, adding seven rebounds, three steals, an assist and blocked shot.

Fifth-year Andrew Sims paced Stonehill with a season-high matching 24 points, aided by 11-of-13 shooting from the free-throw line to go with 6-of-15 shooting from the floor, with a season-best nine rebounds and a steal. 

Leaders

Stonehill

Sims: Season-high 24 points (6-for-15, 11-for-13 FTs), nine rebounds, steal.

Isaiah Burnett Fifth-year, Guard: Ten points (6-for-8 FTs), four rebounds, three assists, four steals.

Max Zegarowski Postgrad, Guard: Nine points, season-high nine rebounds, two assists. 

UIC

Carter: 28 points (10-for-14, 5-for-9 threes), seven rebounds, three steals, blocked shot and assist.

Tre Anderson Postgrad, Guard: 18 points (4-for-7 threes), four rebounds, seven assists and a steal.

Toby Okani Junior, Guard: 11 points (5-for-10), seven rebounds, two assists. 

Burnett scored in double-figures for the eighth-straight game, finishing with ten points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

How it Happened

• A quick eight-point burst turned a one-point deficit into a seven-point lead (66-59) after back-to-back Carter three-pointers with 6:25 to play and UIC held off Stonehill from there.
• Stonehill scored the first three points of the game with a free-throw and layup by junior Thatcher Stone, but UIC answered with back-to-back Carter threes to reverse the lead just two points into the game, before freshman Cameron Fens extended the lead to five (8-3) at the three-minute mark.
• Stonehill pulled even with a three-pointer by sophomore Christopher Melis with 13 minutes remaining.
• The Flames held and restored a five-point lead with an Anderson triple a minute later, extending that cushion to six (22-16) after a Carter layup with 8:37 to go in the half.
• Zegarowski sparked an 8-0 Stonehill run with five-straight points, with fifth-year Shamir Johnson pushing the Skyhawks in front (24-22) with a three-pointer with six minutes left.
• UIC answered with three-pointers from sophomore Filip Skobalj and Anderson to retain its five-point lead (31-26) with 2:06 to go and carried a four-point margin (36-32) when Anderson drained a buzzer-beating three.
• The Flames quickly stretched the lead to eight (40-32) after an Anderson layup a minute into the second half, but Stonehill responded with a 10-1 run to grab the lead again (42-41) after two Sims free-throws three minutes into the half.
• UIC restored a six-point edge (50-44) with another Skobalj triple a minute later, with Stonehill climbing back within one with a Meuser three with 13:25 remaining.
• Stonehill evened the score with two free-throws by Burnett and then with a Sims layup after a Okani lay-in at the midway point of the half.
• Zegarowski gave Stonehill the lead (57-55) with a three-pointer with 9:34 remaining, but that would be the Skyhawks last lead as UIC scored eight straight, including a pair of Carter threes, heading into a timeout with 6:25 on the clock.
• Stonehill crept back within four (68-64) after a Sims layup with 3:58 left, but could get no closer as the Flames were able to maintain at least a two possession lead the rest of the way.

Noteworthy

• Tonight marked the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
• Sims has scored in double-figures in 12-straight games dating back to last season and 35 times in his career overall, after posting his third 20-point game of the season and 11^th of his career.
• Sims also surpassed the 800 point plateau for his career, finishing the day with 821 points in 79 career games played.
• Burnett reached double figures for the eighth-straight game.
• UIC drained seven three-pointers in each half, finishing shooting 46.7-percent (14-for-30) from long range, compared to 5-of-17 (29.4%) from three for Stonehill.

Up Next

Stonehill (2-4, 0-0 NEC) closes out its weekend in New York City tomorrow night, when it caps the Konchalski Classic against host Fordham in a game that will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and SNY at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks next home game is Wednesday, November 30, when they host Eastern Nazarene College at Merkert Gymnasium at 7 p.m. UIC (3-2, 0-0 The Valley) faces Holy Cross tomorrow at 4 p.m.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.