Morning Box Score

By Matt Motyka in News on Dec 15, 2008 4:00PM

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Blackhawks Coatcheck Blue Jackets
Another change in goal and another win for the Blackhawks, as they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1. Chicago's Joel Quenneville tapped Cristobal Huet for Sunday's start, and Huet validated his coach's decision with a 31-save showing. Columbus' Fredrik Modin snuck one by in the early going, but Huet put the net on lock down for the rest of the contest. Despite their mothers' warnings, playing in traffic paid dividends for Chicago late in the second when Patrick Sharp richocheted the tying goal off tender Steve Mason and into the net. Martin Havlat then gave Chicago the lead after a nice to-and-fro with Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks now head north of the border for three games against the Oilers, Flames and Canucks.

College Basketball
UIC endured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Sunday afternoon and came away with a big 66-60 road victory. In a contest that saw eight lead changes, the Flames' Jeremy Buttell hit a go-ahead three with 42 seconds left. Tech finally ran out of answers as Iman Shumpert missed both free throw attempts on the next possession, and UIC sealed it with a pair each from Josh Mayo and Scott VanderMeer. VaderMeer and Mayo had 19 and 17 points respectively to lead the participants in scoring.

NIU was rolled by the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans, 97-85. The Trojans refused to miss, shooting nearly 62% on their home court. The Huskies' realistic 40% from the field kept them out of it, despite Marion Anderson's 29-point effort. NIU closes out the calendar year with intrastate battles against the SIU Salukis and Loyola Ramblers.