With spark lit, Kreps explodes
INDIANAPOLIS -- Robert Kreps acknowledged Illinois-Chicago coach Jimmy Collins has been chiding him in practice.
Not because Kreps can't come through. Collins was on his case because the freshman guard can.
Josh Mayo scored 17 points and Kreps 14 as the fourth-seeded Flames beat No. 8 seed Loyola 60-49 Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the Horizon League tournament.
The victory advanced UIC (18-14) into tonight's semifinals against top-seeded Butler (27-3). The other semifinal matches No. 2 seed Cleveland State (20-11) and No. 6 Valparaiso (21-12).
The Flames sank all 20 of their free throws in the second half, including 4 by Kreps. His 14 points were 2 more than he had scored in the previous five games combined.
"I came out and tried to be aggressive and play within myself," Kreps said.
Collins said he told Kreps he was no longer a freshman, could skip "sophomore-itis" and go straight to junior year.
"He's a guy who knows how to play basketball. And sometimes he gives the torch to other guys when actually, he could be doing a little bit more to help us," Collins said.
"It's fortunate he realized that tonight."
Kreps knows how to win, having led tiny Maroa-Forsyth High School to state championships in basketball and football. He was runner-up in voting for Mr. Basketball last year.
Kreps scored on what turned out to be the most important possession of the game. After Loyola's Ross Forman sank a 3-pointer to trim the Flames' lead to 35-33, Kreps responded nine seconds later with his own 3 on an assist by Mayo.
"Josh got the ball and just ran down the court," Kreps said. "He saw me, and I just let it fly, and it went in."
Mayo scored on a drive soon thereafter to make it 40-33, and Loyola never recovered.
Scott Vandermeer added 9 points and Tori Boyd 8 (all on free throws) for UIC.
Tracy Robinson, a senior, completed his college career by scoring 15 for Loyola (12-19). Forman and Andy Polka scored 10 each.
"The last 10 minutes, we just couldn't get baskets," Loyola coach Jim Whitesell said. "Their zone bothered us."
The Flames outscored Loyola 25-4 in bench points. Collins said they will need similar contributions against 14th-ranked Butler.
"Guys got to play and guys got to get in and give their all in all," he said. "Tonight, we were saved by that scenario. … We really played the first half with very little energy, I thought."
In the year's previous two meetings, Butler beat UIC 73-57 and 51-46.
Semifinal winners will advance to Tuesday's championship game at the home of the highest remaining seed.