Gouard's 31 Propels Loyola past UIC

Feb. 18, 2005

Loyola 91, UIC 85


CHICAGO -- Senior guard DaJuan Gouard poured in a career-high 31 points to lead Loyola (9-16, 7-8 Horizon) to a 91-85 victory over crosstown rival UIC (12-12, 7-7 Horizon) Thursday at the UIC Pavilion. The victory snapped the Ramblers' 13-game losing skid in that arena.


Both teams shot the ball well in the opening period of the high-scoring affair. Loyola held the lead for most of the period and led by as many as nine points (27-18) before the Flames rallied late to tie the game at 35 on Rocky Collum's three-pointer. After the teams exchanged triples, Antoine Smith's basket with 1:35 left in the half put the Ramblers up again and LU took a 41-38 edge into the break.


In the second half, Armond Williams' dunk with 12:35 left to play put UIC ahead 54-53 and the Flames extended the lead to 58-55 before Loyola went on a 10-4 run to open up a 65-62 lead it would never relinquish. Gouard's jumper with 4:01 left gave the Ramblers a 78-69 lead, the largest of the second period.


In addition to his career-best 31 points, Gouard added seven rebounds and a pair of assists. Blake Schilb and Majak Kou chipped in 16 points apiece, while Schilb also recorded six assists and a half dozen rebounds. Tyrelle Blair contributed 13 points, eight boards and four blocks.


Senior Cedrick Banks finished with a game-high 25 points for UIC, tying his career best with six three-pointers made. Williams (15 points, 9 rebounds), junior Justin Bowen (14 points, 8 rebounds) and junior Rocky Collum (13 points, 5 assists) were also in double-figures for the Flames.
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